Exposing the Mechanics of the Chicago Machine
“You’re being manipulated in a cynical, hateful way.”
Chicago, Illinois - September 19, 2018 - How is it that the people who have led Illinois into one of the largest fiscal and moral crises in the nation have managed to hold on to power?
Yesterday, Deputy Governor Leslie Munger, State Representatives Peter Breen (R-Lombard), Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Margo McDermed (R-Frankfort) and Tom Morrison (R-Plainfield), and state legislative candidates Alyssia Benford (Will County), Tonia Khouri (DuPage County), Ammie Kessem (Northwest Chicago), Marilyn Smolenski (Park Ridge / Des Plaines) and Dan Ugaste (Kane County) answered that question during a joint press conference.
House Minority Floor Leader Peter Breen discussed the money poured into the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) by unions, trial lawyers and other powerful special interest groups in exchange for favorable votes and legislation in the State House.
“All money, messages and members of the majority party are controlled by Madigan,” said Breen. “The people who have been in charge of this state for decades have failed you. But each cycle, they are re-elected... They use the same methods over and over. They lie about what’s happening, because if you knew what they were actually doing, you would ride them out on a rail. They think you won’t figure it out, that you will never connect the dots. That is who they are, that's the character of the people who hold all the power in Illinois. We need to change out the people in Springfield, if we are ever going change anything in Illinois.”
“All money, messages and members of the majority party are controlled by Madigan,” said Breen. “The people who have been in charge of this state for decades have failed you. But each cycle, they are re-elected... They use the same methods over and over. They lie about what’s happening, because if you knew what they were actually doing, you would ride them out on a rail. They think you won’t figure it out, that you will never connect the dots. That is who they are, that's the character of the people who hold all the power in Illinois. We need to change out the people in Springfield, if we are ever going change anything in Illinois.”
State Representative Margo McDermed addressed the DPI's method of attacking opponents. She presented some of the lies told about her and other Republican candidates using women’s issues and other identity-based attacks. Speaking directly to Illinois voters, McDermed said, “You are being manipulated in a cynical, hateful way that you need to stop.”
“I have been on the receiving end of the most ironic mail campaign of this election-cycle,” said State Representative Mark Batinick, referring to the DPI’s “No Budget, No Pay” message.
In 2015, Batinick filed “No Budget, No Pay” legislation. Speaker Madigan refused to call his bill for a vote. When then-Comptroller Leslie Munger moved legislator pay in line with state vendor pay, she was sued by Speaker Madigan’s lawyers on behalf of Democrat legislators. In 2016, Democrat Susana Mendoza ran for Comptroller on the promise of “No Budget, No Pay” and defeated Munger. Once in office, Mendoza moved state legislator paychecks back to the front of the line, and ignored advice from Batinick and others on how to enact “No Budget, No Pay.”
In 2015, Batinick filed “No Budget, No Pay” legislation. Speaker Madigan refused to call his bill for a vote. When then-Comptroller Leslie Munger moved legislator pay in line with state vendor pay, she was sued by Speaker Madigan’s lawyers on behalf of Democrat legislators. In 2016, Democrat Susana Mendoza ran for Comptroller on the promise of “No Budget, No Pay” and defeated Munger. Once in office, Mendoza moved state legislator paychecks back to the front of the line, and ignored advice from Batinick and others on how to enact “No Budget, No Pay.”
Batinick called using “No Budget, No Pay” just to get elected “disgusting and dishonest.” He called on Democrat leaders to pass his legislation immediately.
State Representative Tom Morrison exposed the method by which Illinois Democrats abuse their power in the state legislature to win elections: Not only do Democrat legislators vote through bills favorable to the unions and special interests that fund the DPI, but each cycle Michael Madigan, Speaker of the House and Chair of the Democrat Party of Illinois, calls bills to the floor that he has no intention of seeing signed into law (ie. Martwick’s Elected School Board, Concealed Carry bills in 2013; eighteen votes on a property tax freeze in 2016).
Morrison revealed that Democrat legislators then use their offices to send out legislative updates and other communications that echo the messaging on DPI’s campaign mailers. “It is a con,” said Morrison. “And it needs to stop.”
Morrison revealed that Democrat legislators then use their offices to send out legislative updates and other communications that echo the messaging on DPI’s campaign mailers. “It is a con,” said Morrison. “And it needs to stop.”
“There are a lot of words on these mailers,” said Deputy Governor Leslie Munger. In addition to her work on “No Budget, No Pay, when Munger ran against State Representative Carol Sente in 2014. She was subjected of one of the dirtiest, most dishonest campaigns in the state.
“These words mean nothing if we don’t have people willing to stand up and do what they say they will do… We have to be choosy voters… We need to vote for people who will not support the status quo; who will not continue the empty promises that we’ve had in the past from the leader of the Illinois House - and, frankly, the leadership that we’ve had in the General Assembly altogether. We need to vote for people who will stand up for the taxpayers… Be choosy voters.”
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