Allen Skillicorn, the Republican candidate for state House in District 66, has had enough of House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and the inability for the state government to pass a reasonable budget.
“Illinois' current stopgap budget is billions (of dollars) out of balance,” Skillicorn said. “The unfunded pension liability, a giant tax hike down the road, has soared to over $100 billion. The Illinois legislature never even passed a constitutionally required balanced budget for fiscal year 2016. All under Speaker Mike Madigan's watch.”
This is a regular complaint voiced by opponents of Madigan, and he regularly stays in the news about his stronghold on the state government.
In a May 26 article in the Chicago Tribune, Austin Berg reported that in a single day in 2011, Illinois lawmakers introduced and passed the largest tax hike in modern state history in a matter of hours.
“On May 25, House Democrats introduced and passed a budget out of balance by $7 billion in one evening,” Berg said. “Something is wrong with Illinois democracy. Beyond the budget battle, the Land of Lincoln has failed to create enough decent jobs, failed to provide quality care to the state's most vulnerable residents and has shackled its children to debt they can never pay.”
Based on the effects of such disregard for the people of Illinois, Skillicorn said he wants to make sure his constituents know he wants Madigan out of office, and he wants to be one of those who votes him out. He represents areas in McHenry and Kane counties, including Algonquin, Carpentersville, Crystal Lake, East Dundee, Elgin, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Sleepy Hollow and West Dundee,
“What is this struggle really about - Speaker Madigan wants more,” Skillicorn said. “It’s about whether Illinois can continue the trifecta of higher spending, higher taxes and higher debt. The governing methods with which Speaker Madigan sustains his loyal politicians, lobbyists and other political parasites are complicated, but their goal is universally simple. Speaker Mike Madigan wants more of your money,” he said.
"For 45 years Speaker Mike Madigan has been shifting power and tax money to the Chicago Machine while the rest of the state crashes,” Skillicorn said. “I pledge that I will not be the decisive, veto overriding, vote for Speaker Madigan.”
Skillicorn vowed to end Madigan’s 45 year reign if elected.
“I, Allen Skillicorn, pledge that my first action as your state (representative) will be to vote for Mike Madigan’s removal as speaker of the House,” Skillicorn said.
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