North Cook News

The website BossMadigan.com is operated by the Illinois Republican Party, whose stakeholders recently expressed increasing concern over the way state government operates in Springfield.

“Over nearly five decades, (House Speaker Mike) Madigan (D-Chicago) has pushed destructive policies that caused massive job losses, record income tax hikes, the highest property taxes in the country and the worst state pension crisis in America,” the website said.

On the website, the state GOP said it’s “time for Cullerton, Nekritz, Scherer and Moylan to prove their independence,” referring to state Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) and state Reps. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook), Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) and Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines).

“Mike Madigan is doing everything in his power to block a property tax freeze, term limits, job-creating economic reforms and a balanced budget,” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe said. "It's time for legislators to put a balanced budget and bipartisan reforms ahead of Mike Madigan."

Via the BossMadigan.com website, Republican Party leaders detailed the perspectives of each politician, with specific examples of perceived failures to represent constituents fairly. Pointing out the ramifications of multiple rewards to legislators for repeatedly casting votes for Madigan, support for staggering tax hikes, and enabling mounting debt, Yaffe and his colleagues made recommendations in the interest of restoring balance to the frayed system.

Cullerton has represented Chicago since 2012. Although he is on the record as pro-education, voted to increase public school funding and specifically spoke out in support of increasing achievement levels, he appeared to favor burdening the entire state — despite claiming that he “does not support increasing income taxes in order to increase state education funding."

Nekritz demonstrated unflinching loyalty to Madigan, voting for his continued tenure as House speaker seven times so far. Madigan appointed her to his leadership team.

“Only the most loyal legislators are named one of Madigan’s top lieutenants, and taxpayers have paid a steep price for Nekritz’s loyalty,” the website said.

Nekritz sided with Madigan and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on promoting a pension plan that would increase the state’s existing debt by as much as $22 billion. Additionally, she supported Madigan’s 67 percent income tax proposal as well as a measure ensuring her a paycheck even in the absence of a state budget.

“Now, legislators are using the Nekritz-backed legislation to sue so they get paid before social services receive their funding,” the GOP said. “It’s time for Elaine Nekritz to break with Mike Madigan.”

Scherer — like Nekritz — voted to extend Madigan’s term as speaker time and again. Coincidentally, Scherer’s campaign coffers accepted over $850,000 from Madigan. GOP spokespeople said Scherer can demonstrate independence by opposing Madigan's latest bid to remain speaker.

“Scherer … supported Madigan’s broken budget that would increase state debt by $8 billion or force a $1,000 tax hike with no reforms on Illinois families,” the state GOP said. “She also helped enable the current lawsuit filed by legislators that is trying to force they get paid ahead of funding for services for the needy.”

Moylan also benefited directly during campaign fundraising from Madigan donations, the website said. During the Chicago school bailout, “Moylan joined Madigan in trying to hold local schools hostage … and he voted for Madigan’s broken budget.” Like Nekritz, he opted to support legislation guaranteeing his paycheck regardless of the budget crisis.

GOP stakeholders suggested that Moylan — like many of his colleagues — should place the welfare of the public over that of his “political patron" Madigan.

In response, the Chicago Tribune reported this week that Gov. Bruce Rauner “called for a toning down of rhetoric even as his Illinois Republicans have turned it up with an anti-Speaker Michael Madigan website.”

Although the website essentially strives to diminish Madigan’s stature, it also serves as a reminder of the current atmosphere in Springfield and a general measure of the state of affairs as the almost 2-year-old budget impasse continues to fester without resolution.

Rauner distinguished the BossMadigan.com website as separate from his own office, clarifying that although his party is mounting the effort, he personally is removed from the process, citing politics as “the job we’ve chosen.”

“We’re in a field where politics is always going on, partisan stuff,” Rauner told the Chicago Tribune. “We can keep that out of the room when we’re negotiating.”