Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson, a Republican House candidate running in the 113th District, probably wouldn’t be surprised to see House Speaker Mike Madigan cast as some sort of magician in another lifetime.

“He’s very adept at using sleight of hands, distortion and disinformation, anything he feels he needs to pull off his act of keeping power,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “He’s your typical, corrupt career politician. The ends and the means he uses are both despised because none of it is to help the taxpayer and only to make sure he stays in power for more than the 40-plus years he already has.”

Madigan is now suspected of being behind a plan to send “no budget, no pay” campaign mailers to residents in several districts where he is backing candidates that falsely leave the impression he is supportive of the proposed legislation.

Illinois State House Speaker Mike Madigan

The North Cook News has reported Madigan has long opposed “no budget, no pay,” even going as far to file suit against former Illinois comptroller Leslie Munger after she proposed withholding the pay of lawmakers in Springfield when the state is forced to operate without a balanced budget in place.

“He is desperately trying to overcome an extremely high disapproval rating,” said Jameson, running against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District. “It’s like he’s looking for a Hail Mary in the last two minutes of the game, basically anything he can come up with that gives him a chance at positive voter reaction.”

Not only does he support "no budget, no pay," Jameson said he thinks a higher standard should be set for what passes a legitimate budget.

“The qualifier should be that it’s really balanced,” he said. “That means this current concoction, like so many others before it, would fall short of meeting the standard."

The 113th House District includes Madison and St. Clair counties.