East Central Reporter

Veteran Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is relieved to see voters finally being able to take a stand.

“Anything we can do to hold elected officials accountable is a good thing,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “Right now, too many citizens feel like they are completely being abused by their government with no recourse. Anything calling for greater accountability is a good move.”

Miller added he stands in full support of the proposal put forth by republican lawmakers Rep. Mark Batinick and Sen. Jason Barickman, allowing voters the authority to initiate the recall process for elected officials.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) | File Photo

While that ability has been on the books now for more than a decade in the case of the governor, Miller points to all the corruption and dysfunction he sees now gripping Springfield as a glaring example of why those powers need to be extended.

Currently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where probes were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. At the same, whispers of dissent about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) handling of the COVID-19 crisis are becoming more audible by the day.

“With Mike Madigan where there’s smoke there’s normally fire,” Miller said. “I know we’re a nation of laws and you’re innocent until proven guilty, but the problem is when politicians are shameless they keep leaning into all the corruption and voters need to be able to do something.”

The GOP sponsored proposal would require voters from at least 25 counties across the state signing off on a recall petition. In addition, a bipartisan group of current state representatives and senators must also endorse the action.

Finally, to start the recall process against statewide lawmakers, the plan would require signatures from 12% of the voters who cast votes for governor in the prior election. The issue would require the vote of at least 60% of all voters in order for an official to be shown the door via the recall process.