Madigan has mismanaged government too long

Seeing the huge, beaming smile on Mike Madigan’s face as he celebrated passage of Illinois’ pension “reform” bill, front page, Dec. 4, did not do much to assuage my concerns of Illinois’ indebtedness and overall nightmare scenario. In fact, it only increased my fear and anger of where Illinois finds itself today from an accounting standpoint. Anything that makes the longtime speaker of the House so happy is most definitely NOT good for Illinois.

Madigan first served as House Majority leader in 1977. Yes, you read that right, 1977. That’s 36 years of heavily influencing Illinois’ state of affairs. Good thing you picked “public service,” Mr. Madigan, as you would have never survived in the private sector with the kind of mismanagement you have displayed over your career.

Oh wait, that’s right, you have a law practice that specializes in helping cronies with their taxes, which I understand has been hugely profitable to you. That makes the tagline on your official House bio even more laughable: “As Speaker, I want every citizen of Illinois to know this is a people’s Legislature — we are here to serve the public, openly, honestly and with the highest standards. I am accountable only to you.”

Thanks for the mess you’ve created during your unconscionably long time in office.

The voters are too dense to remove you, so could you please just focus on your law practice and allow someone else to screw things up for a while? It’s really too bad you did not put as much thought and effort into your political job as you did your private job.

I highly doubt your private career would have been as successful had you not stacked the deck from your political position.

Bob Carlson

Naperville