State Rep.-elect Chris Miller says the more things change, the more they stay the same in the world of Illinois politics.
“I’ve heard the joke about corruption in Illinois politics for as long as I’ve been alive,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “Since I’ve run for office and actually been to Springfield, I just know now everything I’ve heard to be the absolute truth.”
Miller said he is not the least bit surprised by the scandal that led to federal corruption charges being filed against longtime Chicago Ald. Ed Burke.
Chris Miller
According to the Chicago Tribune, Burke, a city alderman for more than five decades, is accused of shaking down the owners of a fast food restaurant in his 14th Ward as part of a scheme to steer more business to his private law firm.
“I don’t know if anyone’s shocked by this, and the truth is unless things drastically change in terms of the culture of Illinois politics, this will all be explained away to completely vanish and no one will be punished for it, at least not by the lawmakers in Springfield,” added Miller, a Republican from Oakland who defeated his Democratic opponent, Shirley Bell, in November in the 110th District with 60 percent of the vote.
“No consequences for improprieties is a template for corruption across this state,” he added. “Look at the recent sexual harassment scandal in [House Speaker Mike] Madigan’s office. It all got swept under the rug. Chicago politics and corruption are synonymous.”
Miller said the fact that Burke is even under investigation gives you some idea of just how bad his alleged transgressions must actually be.
“It’s a Christmas miracle, but even now it only happened after the feds had to step in,” he said. “The Democratic culture of corruption has always been like this, and people are sick of it.”
The 110th House District includes Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar and Lawrence counties.
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