Chicago City Wire

It’s a paradox that the same state Democratic politicians who have led the state to the brink of fiscal crisis manage to be re-elected, according to Republican leaders gathered recently to expose the "Chicago Machine."

Led by Deputy Gov. Leslie Munger, several lawmakers and General Assembly candidates, discussed the flow of campaign dollars, attack ads and deceitful practices involving legislation. 

Titled “Exposing the Mechanics of the Chicago Machine,” the GOP news conference had a grim message for voters: “You’re being manipulated in a cynical, hateful way," according to a statement issued afterward. 

Deputy Gov. Leslie Munger

A video of the conference is posted on YouTube.com.

Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) blamed money from special interests, including unions and trial lawyers, for tainting Democratic Party interests. 

Breen accused longtime House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago) for coordinating the deception.

“All money, messages and members of the majority party are controlled by Madigan,” Breen said, according to the GOP statement issued after the news conference. 

“The people who have been in charge of this state for decades have failed you," Breen said. "They lie about what’s happening, because if you knew what they were actually doing, you would ride them out on a rail.”

At least two of the presenters discussed false or misleading attack ads, a frequent tactic incumbent Democrats allegedly use. State Rep. Margo McDermed said Illinois Democrats used lies about women’s issues and other identity-based attacks.

“I have been on the receiving end of the most ironic mail campaign of this election cycle,” said state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield).

Three years ago, Batinick filed a “No Budget, No Pay” bill attempting to force a budget compromise. Although the Speaker tabled the measure, Democrats later used the issue to help elect Susana Mendoza as comptroller, defeating incumbent Leslie Munger. Batinick called the tactic “disgusting and dishonest.”

Another strategy discussed at the press conference involved alleged manipulation of the legislative agenda. State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Plainfield) said a healthy crop of bills favoring unions and special-interest groups met easy approval, but laws concerning education, gun rights and property tax freezes reach the floor with no intention of receiving approval.

“We have to be choosy voters,” Munger said. “We need to vote for people who will not support the status quo, who will not continue the empty promises that we’ve had in the past from the leader of the Illinois House – and, frankly, the leadership that we’ve had in the General Assembly altogether.”