Jack Franks

John O'Neill

State Rep. Jack Franks loves to be in the media spotlight.

If it is a popular issue, Franks is ready with a quote.

He supported the forensic audit of state expenditures.

At least that’s what he said.

He voted for auditing Medicaid payments.

House Men's Room with automatically flushing urinals, just as the Tollway has for its high use osases.

And, he should have, because as far back as the 1970’s the Federal government has estimated that 10% of that spending is fraudulent.

But he also supported a forensic audit for the rest of the budget.

What happened when it was time for the vote?

McHenry County’s Democrat was Missing in Action.

Another part of the Illinois House men's room.

To put in terms used in the Illinois General Assembly, Franks “took a walk.”

Usually that means a legislator walks to the bathroom to avoid a vote.

This has not gone unnoticed by Franks’ Republican opponent McHenry Grade School and Library District Board member John O’Neill.

He issued the following statement:

House members had embossed paper towels with which to dry their hands in 2007. Click to enlarge.

“From day one of this campaign, I have been calling for a Forensic Audit of the entire Illinois Budget in order to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption throughout Illinois government.“Adam Andrzejewski, who ran for Governor in the Republican primary, wrote a piece in Illinois Review about how the Political Machine in Springfield killed HR 1057, which would have directed the Audito General to ‘commence this forensic audit as soon as possible.’

“My opponent had been a co-sponsor of this resolution, but apparently when it came time for the vote, he ‘went to the bathroom.’

“There is a clever line in there somewhere about his support for the audit being full of…something.”