Kane County Reporter

Republican state House candidate Laura Curtis has long seen the handwriting on the wall when it comes to Springfield Democrats’ runaway corruption.

“Just think about the ComEd scandal and the bribes involved, the cost of all that was passed on to customers,” Curtis told the Kane County Reporter. “That’s how it works, not to mention the cost of all the favorable legislation that comes from dealing with all the lobbyists. It’s a high price-tag to pay.”

A new University of Illinois at Chicago study finds the state’s culture of corruption annually costs taxpayers in the neighborhood of $556 million. Researchers also noted Illinois ranks as the second-most corrupt state in the country (behind Louisiana) and Chicago is the most corrupt city in the U.S., all of which goes a long way in crippling the state’s chances for economic growth.

Over the last two decades, researchers also found the state’s corruption price-tag easily tops $10 billion, or around $830 per resident.

This year alone, at least four state lawmakers have been indicted on corruption charges, adding to the state’s long and sordid political history that includes four governors having been sentenced to prison over the last five decades. Presently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan finds himself cast as a central figure in the ongoing federal probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme.

Running against Democrat Maura Hirschauer in the 49th District, Curtis argues it all screams for the need for change in Springfield.

“I don’t understand why voters keep supporting Democrats the way that they do,” she said. “I mean, they’ve been in control here in Illinois for the last 30 years.”

As for her opponent, Curtis said she’s often said one thing and behaved in a totally different fashion when put to the test.

“She talks about ending corruption for good, but she still hasn’t said Madigan needs to go,” she said. “To end corruption in Springfield, we all know Mike Madigan has to go and it needs to happen now.”