Prairie State Wire

Former Illinois State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) calls this Mike Madigan time in Springfield.

“It’s the last two weeks of the legislative session and whatever happens now either happens because Mike Madigan wants it to or doesn’t want it to,” Ives, the former Republican candidate for governor, told the Prairie State Wire. “It’s a dangerous time because it’s when all the backroom deals are made and when Madigan twists members’ arms to cut a deal for the things he wants and they make deals for the things that they want.”

Ives said the only people left out of the equation are Republicans and taxpayers, who are left having to dig even deeper in their pockets to foot the bill for all the costs. She recently sent an email to supporters warning them to be on guard and ready to raise their voices, particularly against bills like HB 391, which would raise gas taxes and increase registration fees on electric vehicles by more than 60 times their current cost.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan

“You can stop this bill,” Ives said in her email. “The reason the abortion bills, marijuana bill and graduated income tax bill are stalled is because the grass roots have let their voices be heard. Do not let them get away with this tax increase, especially in light of ever-increasing property taxes, no spending reforms for pensions or otherwise, and bloated bureaucracies in education and every other government entity.”

Without making their voices heard, Ives said voters cannot expect to see anything change.

“We’ve got the same leaders we’ve had for the last 20 years,” she said. “There’s no difference, [Gov. J.B.] Pritzker is immaterial to all this because right now it’s all about Madigan’s agenda.”