“Running to fill the seat being vacated by veteran state Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) in the 52nd District, McLaughlin wonders how much good a push by a group of Republican legislators to have a series of anti-corruption measures aired out in public before the full legislature can do as long as the same lawmakers are in charge. Currently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan finds himself at the center of an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme in which all the perks where allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation.
“I think it’s past time that all state legislators take a look at themselves in the mirror and make a decision about if what they’re doing is in the best interest of the state or themselves,” McLaughlin added. “The real question for Mike Madigan is how you can not feel responsible for where we are right now after having been in charge all this time.