North Cook News

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union’s $768,000 campaign contribution to Mike Madigan doesn’t add up to Jillian Rose Bernas, because the House Speaker is running unopposed in his re-election to the 22nd House District seat.

“The contribution is very interesting,” Bernas told the North Cook News. “It's not needed for his campaign. They are giving money to Madigan, and he will channel it to candidates throughout the state to keep them elected. They will support him and approve a package worth billions for the union.”

The recent AFSCME gift to Madigan represents the largest the organization has ever given to him, Illinois News Network reports. The contribution comes at a time when the union remains locked in contentious contract negotiations with Gov. Bruce Rauner. The two are as much as $3 billion apart in counter-offers, according to Wirepoints.com.

Rep. Michelle Mussman

Over the last decade, AFSCME salaries have grown at a rate four times faster than that of the average worker, making Illinois state workers the second highest paid in the country. In addition, career state retirees will collect an average of $1.8 million in total pension benefits over the life of their retirement, Wirepoints states.

Questions about Madigan’s financial dealings don’t end there, with the Prairie State Wire recently reporting he doled out more than $2 million to the campaigns of 25 state House candidates between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30.

“The game played in Springfield is hard for normal working people to beat,” said Bernas, running against Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) in the 56th District. “However, an average person has the opportunity to defeat Madigan by voting his candidates, like Michelle Mussman, out of office... 

"If you are opposed to Madigan, you have to be opposed to the candidates he invests in and supports. I am running to lead with integrity and will reject playing these games with people's lives when I am elected to office.”

Bernas said she could never see herself accepting funding from someone like Madigan.

“I turned down an offer of financial support from Rauner and the Republican Party to be able to exert my independence,” she said. “I want to bring integrity to Springfield, along with an agenda of serving [the] people.”

The 56th House District includes Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Roselle and Schaumburg.