Metro East Sun

Mike Madigan is gone after a half century in Springfield, 36 years as speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) said that’s a start, but there is more to do. Elik (R-Alton) joined with other Republican officials to call for serious, meaningful and lasting reform.

Elik was among the speakers at an April 15 press conference in Springfield who asked state residents to sign a petition supporting Reimagine Illinois, a campaign to refocus the state on the pressing issues and move past the problems that have plagued Illinois.

"The House of Representatives elected a new speaker of the House who pledged to be open and accessible so we can all, quote, ‘Work together to solve the very serious issues in this state,’” Elik said. “Here we are with 45 days until session adjournment and the Democrat-controlled Legislature has failed to put forth any meaningful or substantive legislation dealing with fighting corruption, providing tax relief, and unfortunately, no plan put forth to adopt a balanced budget.”

She said there was a call for fresh air and leadership at the Capitol at the start of the year. But that rings hollow in light of how this session has unfolded.

“In January, the Democrats demanded new leadership. They were tired of the status quo of one man controlling the chamber with his House rules,” Elik said. “They demanded new House rules and committed to a new way of governing the chamber. Yet we saw those House rules barely change in ink. The fundamental principles of full control to one person continued. So much for those changes.

“House Democrats broke their promise of working together and went back to their old ways of doing business by voting to suspend their own rules in order to adopt nearly 300 bills on the consent calendar, of which 73% of the bills approved on the consent calendar were bills sponsored by Democrats, and only 27% of the bills were sponsored by Republicans,” she said. “Even more astonishing is the fact that out of 697 bills passed out of committee, 82% of the bills were sponsored by Democrats, with only 18% of the bills sponsored by Republicans. It doesn't appear that the House Democratic leadership wants to, quote, ‘Work together to solve the very serious issues in this state.’”

Elik is in her first term representing District 111.  She and her husband Don live in Fosterburg with their two children, Caroline and Adam.