District 79 candidate Lindsay Parkhurst called House Speaker Mike Madigan’s (D-District 22) decision to cancel a planned House session today "despicable."
“Just when you think politicians in Springfield could not work any less, they somehow manage to do so,” Parkhurst, a Kankakee attorney who is running for a House seat, said.
Madigan had previously said the House would meet weekly through June to work on getting a budget approved for the state, but on Tuesday called off the first planned session.
"Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget for years, social service organizations are being shuttered and schools are at risk of not opening on time," Parkhurst said.
Gov. Bruce Rauner also called out the House Democrats for postponing progress, saying their actions will only worsen the state’s current school crisis, even as he endured critical reaction to comments he made on Monday calling certain Chicago public schools “crumbling prisons.”
"No student, no child of Illinois should have to go to school in some of those facilities," Rauner was quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune. "They have metal on the windows. They're dark, they're depressing, they're crumbling.”
As both parties continued to wrangle the topic and assign blame to one another, Parkhurst spoke up candidly.
“It’s despicable that legislators aren’t working around the clock to pass a balanced budget," Parkhurst said. “Mike Madigan canceling (the House) session is shameful and symbolic of the stranglehold he has on state government.”
Parkhurst also didn't hesitate to comment on recent observations and perceived job performance of her opponent, Democratic state Rep. Kate Cloonen, who was caught playing video games on the House floor during this spring's legislative session.
"I ask Kate Cloonen to take a break from Candy Crush and give her boss, Mike Madigan, a call,” she said. “It is imperative that all legislators return to Springfield and end this crisis once and for all. We need to put Illinois first and stop playing politics with our future."
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