North Cook News

Jillian Rose Bernas, the Republican candidate for the Illinois state House seat in the 56th District, is speaking out against lawmakers and others in Springfield who receive full pensions despite resigning amid scandals and allegations of sexual harassment.

Chief among those are: Tim Mapes, former chief of staff for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who has been accused of sexual harassment but is still eligible to collect more than $135,000 per year after 40 years in state government; Madigan operative Kevin Quinn, who will be eligible for $750,000 even after allegations of domestic abuse and harassment; and Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), who has been accused by a victims' rights advocate of sexual harassment, is eligible for a yearly payment of 85 percent of his final legislative salary. As of 2017, his annual salary was estimated at $85,000, according to the comptroller's office.

"This illustrates how ironclad and untouchable pension protections are in Illinois — regardless of any misconduct from the recipient,” Bernas told North Cook News. “Virtually every state supreme court all over America has allowed much-needed pension reforms in their respective systems, but our supreme court strictly interprets our state constitution to hold pension benefits practically immaculate even in the case of misconduct. We’re the sole outlier on that." 

Rep. Michelle Mussman

The unwillingness to bring reform speaks to a larger issue of selfishness in politicians, Bernas, who is running against incumbent Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), said. 

"These pension protections inspire the political elite to believe themselves untouchable … and this fuels the system of corruption in Springfield," Bernas said. "Leaders in Springfield have zero interest in reforming our pension system. They are more concerned with protecting their own pensions than protecting the victims of sexual misconduct coming out of the Speaker’s Office."

Bernas believes the situation is unfair to victims of the sexual harassment claims, but also to taxpayers, which is why she wants to hold lawmakers accountable and change the environment of state politics. Something her opponent won’t do, she said.

"My opponent has had seven years to effect change in Springfield, only to become a part of its corruption,” Bernas said. “As state representative, I will work to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions and change policy to change this culture of corruption and elitism."