Kane County Reporter

Ben Bierly is apprehensive about any ethics reform plan being proposed by Illinois Democrats as long as Mike Madigan still sits as House speaker.

"Mike Madigan is too deep into the investigation to be considered for leadership at this point,” Bierly, a retired Marine Corps major who is challenging state Sen. John Connor (R-Lockport) in the 43rd District, told Kane County Reporter. "He should be removed from his position at least until the investigation and resulting trial are complete.”

Arguably the state’s most powerful lawmaker, Madigan is embroiled in a widening federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme. Some Democrat legislators are now pushing a package of nine reform measures they insist will quickly lead to the kind of culture change in Springfield most agree is critically needed. Heading the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

“The ethics reforms being proposed by the Democrats are certainly a good start, but until they produce a bipartisan bill, it’s really hard to say that it goes far enough,” Bierly added. "I am also concerned about what the Democrats mean by covering staffers by the Human Rights Act and how they will make the Legislative Inspector General more independent. I would like to see that explained, and prefer making the I.G. completely independent of legislative control. I applaud the call for term limits as well. I have been calling for ethics reforms and term limits from the start of my campaign."

As for Madigan, Bierly said he should no longer be a worry for Springfield.

“He should have resigned by this point to preserve the status of the General Assembly,” he said. “His continued speaker’s position casts a heavy pall his credibility and calls into question any work the General Assembly performs until he is removed.”

Bierly is emphatic the time to strike is now.

“The ethics issues with the General Assembly are a clear and present danger to the proper operation of Illinois,” he said. “The General Assembly should hold a special session immediately to address the structural issues that have allowed this environment to grow. Ethics issues are like a black mold poisoning everything the General Assembly produces. How long should we let something so detrimental continue to grow before we take action?”