State reps should challenge leaders

Undeniably, Michael Madigan has effectively positioned himself as the most powerful political force in Illinois. He has led the Illinois House for over 20 years, and anyone paying attention knows that he has played a major role in the financial straits our state is now experiencing. Having to win only his home district in Chicago every two years, he is going to be around for as long as he likes, and there is nothing any of us outside his district can do about it.

However, we do elect the state representatives in our own districts, who in turn determine every two years who the speaker of the state House is going to be. If our state representatives are really serious about doing what is right for the state, then they really need to consider whether or not they want to elect and continue to follow the leadership that has failed us so miserably.

These votes do not get a lot of attention, but as we can now see, they are very important. My hope is that the Daily Herald prints the vote of the local representatives so that their constituency can then hold them accountable in the next election.

Keith Gray

Mettawa