Dupage Policy Journal

Republican state House candidate Jay Kinzler leaves little question about where he stands on the growing controversy of several associates of House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) who have been forced from power after becoming ensnared in the ongoing sexual harassment scandal now rocking Springfield.

“Government employees that break the law while on the job and doing work related to jobs for which they were eligible for a pension should lose those pensions,” Kinzler told the DuPage Policy Journal. “The culture in Springfield is broken and without morals. That is why our state is in such bad shape.”

The latest official with close ties to Madigan to go down in flames is his longtime chief of staff Tim Mapes, who stepped down after being accused of harassment and bullying by fellow Madigan staffer Sherri Garrett.

Republican state House candidate Jay Kinzler

Despite his ouster, Mapes, who served roughly four decades in state government, is reported to be eligible to collect a pension of more than $135,000 per year with annual pension increases of 3 percent.

In addition to Mapes, Kevin Quinn, another close Madigan associate to recently face similar allegations, has been reported to be in line for a $750,000 payout from state taxpayers after contributing roughly $26,000 to his pension over 17 years of service.

“You or I would need over $13 million in the bank at 1 percent interest to generate that yearly pension," said Kinzler, a Glen Ellyn Republican who is running against Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) in the 46th House District. “It’s unfair to hardworking taxpayers that these guys make that much, especially since if what they are accused of is proven in court, they should be in jail.”

Kinzler said the problem starts with Madigan and the abusive culture he has allowed to fester over his many years in power.

“Our leaders like Madigan are corrupt and the people that work for them are lawbreakers,” Kinzler added. “With no moral compass, our state is sinking just like a ship that has a captain and crew with no sense of direction. They seem to be more concerned with protecting their pensions than they are with protecting victims.”

Kinzler said the vibe he gets is that residents across the state may have finally had enough.

“This is the culture in Springfield, every man for himself,” he said. “How can they rip off struggling, hardworking taxpayers as much as possible and get their pension payoffs before the whole system implodes and the state is bankrupt? How is this fair?”

Finally, Kinzler said new blood needs to come to Springfield for real change to really have any chance.

“It is time to throw the bums out,” he said. “We need to rid our state of these self-serving, abusive career politicians at the ballot box. They have to know what is going on with this abuse. Some have even experienced it, but for political reasons have kept quiet because they don’t want to lose... favor and, more importantly, the money from Speaker Madigan. They also contribute to prolonging the problem by looking the other way.”