McHenry Times

Veteran state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) is leading the charge among Republicans in speaking out against the state's Democrats granting even more power to the House Rules Committee they control.

Among the new rules, which passed without any GOP support and are slated to go into effect in the coming days, the five-member panel will now have the authority to control the flow of all legislation proposed in Springfield. 

Critics argue they grant too much authority to longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and charge that they allow him to unilaterally determine what bills get to move forward.

“Forty-two members of the House voted for transparent and open state government,” Skillicorn said in a statement. “Seventy-three members voted(in)  lockstep with Chicago Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan. One city and one man dictates to the rest of state’s 12.8 million residents. More of the same from the majority party.”