South Central Reporter

First Speaker Mike Madigan. Now Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Illinois’ top Democrats are in the crosshairs of federal investigations and Christopher Hicks, a Republican political activist, said it’s simply more of the same dirty dealings with public dollars.

“This just further embarrasses the voters of Illinois,” Hicks told South Central Reporter. “The slogan ‘Land of Lincoln’ should be changed to ‘Land of Corruption’ considering the massive amount of corruption that Illinois has become known for over the years.”

Christopher Hicks | File Photo

He said the state leaders under investigation should be gone. Now.

Madigan was revealed for be “Public Official A” whom Commonwealth Edison attempted for several years to influence to obtain favorable legislation, including bills impacting rates the state’s largest electric utility could assess.

ComEd reached a deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, agreeing to pay a $200 million fine, obey all laws and regulations and work with investigators. 

Madigan, who has not been charged, has agreed to cooperative with the investigation.

On July 24, it was revealed the U.S. Attorney’s Office is also looking into AT&T for possible involvement with state officials to gain political support for its business.

U.S. Attorney John Lausch said there is a lot more dirt to move and answers to find.

“Our investigation is ongoing” Lausch said. “It’s vibrant, and it will continue.”

Hicks said there is enough smoke to call out the fire department.

“If Democrats had any morals, they would have already removed Madigan as speaker but we see that does not look likely,” Hicks said. “It really should not come as a surprise the rank and file Democrats won't dare challenge Grandpa Madigan.

“King Pritzker should immediately ask for Madigan to resign if there is clear evidence criminal acts were committed,” he said. “Pritzker should also do the Illinois voters a favor and resign as he is on an FBI wiretap from 2008 discussing with then Governor Blagojevich the appointment to the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.”

But that is not the reason federal prosecutors are scrutinizing Pritzker now. They are looking into reports of a $330,000 property tax break he received for his second Gold Coast mansion.

Then-Assessor Joseph Berrios allowed the revamped assessment and tax bill because five toilets were removed during a remodeling project in 2015, lowering the value by 90 percent. Pritzker, reportedly worth more than $3 billion, received a favorable break to save tax money — but it became an issue late in the 2018 gubernatorial campaign even as he repaid the $330,000, and has floated back to the surface recently.

Pardon Hicks if he doesn’t call for a fainting couch.

“It does not come as a surprise to see Illinois Democrats following a special set of rules while everyone else has to play by the rules,” he said.

Illinois residents have allowed this culture of corruption to retain power, Hicks said. They must share in the blame.

“The corruption and insider deals exist in Illinois because voters have allowed politicians to run unchecked for far too long,” he said. “Instead of voting out the corrupt politicians, they typically get rewarded with another term instead of being sent home packing! This behavior just entices the system of corruption to continue further eroding any morals or ethics most politicians might have left.”

A Sawyerville resident, Hicks has made politics both a passion and a career pursuit.

Hicks is a field director for a political consulting firm and has been elected twice as a Mount Olive Republican precinct committeeperson. He also ran for other offices, including on the Macoupin County Board, the Sawyerville council and mayor, as well as working on various political campaigns.

A 2011 graduate of Heartland Community College and a 2013 graduate of Southern Illinois University, he went to Washington, D.C. during the impeachment of President Donald Trump and joined an effort to force Speaker Nancy Pelosi to release the articles of impeachment.

Politics plays a major part in his life. He has studied and witnessed the seemingly endless march of corruption and favoritism in Illinois politics.

When will voters get fed up and demand change and reform? Hicks said they could start on Nov. 3.

“Voters should have said enough long ago,” he said. “Voters have that chance once again this November and need to make sure they vote out all of the corrupt politicians who only put themselves first!”