Metro East Sun

Newly elected state Rep. David Friess is for anything to give voters control more over the elected officials installed in power to represent them.

“I think what needs to happen to give voters back power over their elected leaders is true ethics reform,” Friess told the SE Illinois News. “In addition, if term limits are not imposed on elected officials, at a minimum, term limits should be imposed on leadership positions.”

Friess likewise is open to a new Republican proposal that would give voters the ability to initiate the recall process for elected officials, adding to the scope of a law that has allowed for such action where the governor is concerned for more than a decade.

“It should not be an easy process and there should be a very high standard for such actions, but I am not opposed to voters being able to recall elected officials,” he added.

Friess said the ongoing federal corruption case involving House Speaker Mike Madigan could easily fit the bill. The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center federal case involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation.

“Some of the acts that Speaker Madigan has been tied to, if true, warrant the removal of Speaker Madigan from office,” Friess added.

Put forth by Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and state Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), the GOP 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.