Mike Babcock, the Republican candidate for state representative in House District 111, spoke out against his opponent’s all-too-easy acquiescence to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s proposed budget in Springfield, calling it the largest unbalanced budget in state history.
Having previously characterized Madigan’s leadership as a failure, Babcock, an East Alton native, characterized the vote by state Rep. Dan Beiser (D-District 111) as hasty and ill-conceived.
“Beiser voted for Speaker Mike Madigan’s 500-page, out-of-balance budget - not once but twice,” Babcock said. “Madigan’s budget (was) over $7 billion in the hole.”
Under Madigan's plan, which was killed in the Senate on the last day of the spring legislative session, Illinois' debt would also levy a $1,000 tax hike on every working family, plus, it would have given the Chicago Public Schools a $700 million bailout.
Although General Assembly leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner later came together to pass a temporary funding plan, Babcock said the General Assembly's failure to pass a long-term balanced budget is disgraceful.
“Dan Beiser is part of the problem in Springfield," Babcock said. "Year after year, politicians like Beiser … vote with Mike Madigan and his anti-taxpayer agenda. Then … they pat themselves on the back (for) all of the great things they’ve done.”
Babcock joined the race for the Illinois House seat on May 23, when he declared his intention to run for a House seat against incumbent Beiser, a Democrat. Babcock has served as Wood River Township's supervisor for the past seven years.
His platform centers on property tax reform, education, workers' compensation and small business advocacy. Equally importantly, his campaign acknowledges the need to support nonprofit and service-based organizations.
“Enough is enough,” Babcock said. “Dan Beiser won’t be putting our community to work with Mike Madigan’s status quo. It’s time the career politicians in Springfield live within their means, pass a balanced budget and enact pro-growth reforms to get our economy moving forward again. Together, we can once again make Illinois a land of freedom and opportunity.”
Alerts Sign-up