ST. CHARLES – In response to the guilty verdict for former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes, State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) released the following response:
“Despite the many judgments made on the disgraceful behavior of corrupt Illinois officials, not a single bill to enact stronger ethics reforms and stop the cycle of corruption was voted on by the House Ethics and Elections Committee this spring. What will it take to tear down half a century’s worth of corruption built during Speaker Madigan’s reign? We desperately need a complete overhaul of the House Rules, close lawmaker-to-lobbyist loopholes, provide the LIG with subpoena authority to investigate corruption allegations, and increase penalties and fines. The culture of corruption in Springfield can only stop if the Democrats work with us to do something about it.”