South West Illinois News

Illinois state Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), who is running for re-election in the 117th District, has come under fire alongside his Democratic colleagues via an ad criticizing their tax policies and habit of putting their loyalty to the party over their constituency.

 

A recent series of disapproving promotional segments supported by the grassroots Americans for Prosperity organization specifically targets certain Illinois Democrats as well as the party at large. The spots accuse the Democratic lawmakers of having a “yes” problem in Springfield.

“Yes to special interests. Yes to more spending and handouts. Yes to Speaker Mike Madigan’s agenda,” says the narrator, encouraging viewers to call their lawmakers and urge them to “quit voting for Mike Madigan’s overspending.”

Bradley’s Republican opponent, Benton business owner David Severin, has raised his own concerns about Bradley's loyalty to Madigan,a Chicago Democrat.

“I made a pledge to the people of Southern Illinois that my first action as state representative will be to vote for Mike Madigan's removal as speaker of the House — a vote that is taken at the beginning of every new General Assembly,” Severin recently said in a Facebook post. “I called on Rep. John Bradley to join me in making the pledge. He has refused.”

The commercials also criticize the Democratic legislators on the issue of taxes.

“Eighty percent in many legislative districts favor property tax freezes,” claims one advertisement — with animated graphics and voice-over narration — but Sen. Tom Fullerton (D-Marion) and his cronies don’t care, it goes on to assert.

“Property taxes are crushing Illinois’ middle class,” another ad states.

 

The series of commercials are taking on a variety of candidates statewide, including suburban Democratic Reps. Sam Yingling of Grayslake, who is facing challenger Republican Rod Drobinski of Wauconda; and Deb Conroy of Villa Park, opposed by GOP candidate Heidi Holan of Glen Ellyn.

 

The ads also go after two Downstate Democratic targets, Reps. Dan Beiser of Alton and Bradley.