Dem State Rep Wants Trial Delayed to Vote on Tax Increase

The trial for State Rep. Derrick Smith started this week in spite of his requests to delay the trial so he could vote on budgets and the possible vote on making the temporary tax increase permanent. The judge refused.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman refused last week a defense request to delay the trial so Smith, a Chicago Democrat, could be in Springfield to vote in the closing days of the legislative session.

The trial stems from Smith’s arrest for accepting bribes back in 2012. He was impeached, but won re-election in the fall again anyway. He did lose his primary this spring even though he was heavily supported by Speaker Michael Madigan.

After he was charged in 2012, Smith became the first lawmaker tossed out of the Illinois House in more than a century. But the longtime political operative won re-election later that year despite his indictment. During the primary race earlier this year, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s powerful political operation poured more than $70,000 into Smith’s campaign, but he lost a five-way contest for his party’s nomination.

This is another one of those stories that seems only happens in Illinois where an indicted politician can win an election and try to vote to raise the hard working citizens taxes. Instead of being forced out he is supported by Democrat leadership.