Prairie State Wire

Jim Dodge is hoping that Mike Madigan’s predictability will be a huge factor at the ballot box in November.

“For all the candidates he gives all this money to, it’s a perfect predictor of who plans to vote to keep him in power in Springfield,” Dodge told the Prairie State Wire. “If you’re one of the many taxpayers across the state who has had enough of Mike Madigan, you need to remember that in going to the polls this fall.”

The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) recently reported that Madigan has contributed approximately $15 million to the campaigns of roughly 60 legislators he wants to see remain in Springfield. In every instance, each of the lawmakers he has invested in has supported Madigan as speaker of the House.

Mike Frerichs

“Illinois is a great state that’s been put in a doom loop by Madigan and Democrats,” said Dodge, who is running as a Republican for state treasurer against Democratic incumbent Mike Frerichs. “I can’t see how any of these people can maintain their independence when they are all so beholden to him.”

Besides being the longest-serving House speaker in history, Madigan also serves as chairman of various campaign committees, which gives him access to even more cash and resources, IPI states.

“I’ve got $200 billion reasons why I say Mike Madigan needs to go,” Dodge said. “It’s his policies that made Illinois home to one of the highest tax burdens in the country and home to some of the highest property taxes. Right now, this state is dead last among all others in terms of its finances. It’s his decisions that have turned Springfield into a place more concerned about money and power than any of the people of the state.”

All the money pumped into politics these days hasn’t been good for the system, Dodge said.

“It has chased away all discussion about policies we should be debating in order to save Illinois and put it back on track,” he said.