Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) hopes former state Sen. Terry Link’s guilty plea on tax fraud charges marks the beginning of what needs to come to Springfield.

“I’m glad he admitted to his wrongdoing and am hoping it’s the beginning to ridding out corruption in state government,” Grant told the DuPage Policy Journal. “I’m hoping all the bad behavior can become a thing of the past and we can continue down this road.”

Even as Link entered his plea, Grant is clear she thinks all roads lead to House Speaker Mike Madigan when it comes to truly cleaning up Springfield.

“It starts with new leadership and someone serious about real ethics reform,” she added. “From there, we have glaring problems in the state that are not solved by taxing people even more, or a progressive tax that won’t do what it’s being advertised to do. We need pension reform and much more, and that’s not just a Republican or Democratic problem. We have to all be in this together.”

Grant said she’s convinced none of that can happen as long as Madigan is still in charge.

“He doesn’t address problems that impact families,” she added. “Madigan needs to go on every level because he really doesn’t seem to care about the people of this state.”

Link, who served on the state’s Legislative Ethics Commission, officially resigned this month. He was formally charged in August with failing to report income on his 2016 tax return to the IRS. In filing charges, authorities asserted his earnings “substantially exceeded” the $264,450 he reported for the year.

The Vernon Hills lawmaker is the fourth Democratic lawmaker to face federal corruption charges this year, joining state Sens. Thomas Cullerton and Martin Sandoval and state Rep. Luis Arroyo.