East Central Reporter

Chris Miller’s campaign platform includes the assurance his independence will never be for sale.

“I’ve already signed a pledge never to support Mike Madigan as House Speaker,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “The biggest reason for that is we need a change in culture in Springfield and the only way to achieve that is to get rid of Madigan and the nuisance he has become. He is totally representative of that blue model of corruption that says everything, lawmakers included, is for sale.”

Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) reports Madigan has recently contributed somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 million to the campaigns of approximately 60 current legislators over the life of their political careers. IPI also states that all of those lawmakers have also supported Madigan in each of his re-election efforts.

Shirley Bell

“His motivation for contributing all that money is clear,” said Miller, who is running against Democrat Shirley Bell in the 110th House District. “All of these people serve as no more than puppets for him in terms of supporting everything he wants and advancing his system of corruption. They're all bought and paid for.”

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

In all, at least three sitting lawmakers have pocketed upwards of $1 million each from Madigan and another seven have received more than half that amount. All of the lawmakers have cast at least one vote in support of Madigan maintaining his tight grip over his speakership.

“I think when you start throwing around that kind of money and talking about that kind of longevity it almost automatically makes for bad public policy,” Miller said. “Rarely, if ever, is anyone giving out that kind of money without expecting something in return.”

The 110th House District includes Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar and Lawrence counties.