Incoming congresswoman and Blago enabler Halvorson: "No idea" why there is an Ill. corruption problem

Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) is the outgoing state Senate majority leader, she started her Springfield tenure in 1997. She's was a key Rod Blagojevich enabler who worked at the side of state Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.

Last month Halvorson was elected to Congress, she'll represent Illinois 11th district.

Yesterday the Southtown Star published an interview with Halvorson, and below is a troubling interchange:

Q : Why do you think the state has the corruption problem that it does?

A : I have absolutely no idea. Because nobody is above the law. ... Unfortunately, because campaigns are so expensive, so long and so nasty, you don't have good people wanting to run for those spots. We need to encourage more people to get into these races for the right reasons.

No idea? Halvorson was the top lieutenant to ethically-challenged Jones, who not only was Blagojevich's best friend in Springfield, he was the man who tried to block the override of Blago's veto of the state ethics bill, which only came to a vote because it threatened to become a campaign issue for Barack Obama.

Where was Halvorson when Jones' son was essentially anointed to replace the machine pol in the state Senate? Or when public business "coincidentally" ended up with the firm run by Jones' stepson?

Where was Halvorson when Jones' future wife was appointed the state mental health director?

Halvorson was pretty quiet about Jones, and Blago, while she was running for Congress.

And Congresswoman-elect Halvorson stalled Illinois ethics reform too.

"No idea" why there is a corruption problem in this state? Really?

There's another election in two years.

Related post:

Cleaning up Blago's trash: Air Force captain considering run for Congress

Technorati tags: Democrats Politics Halvorson Blagojevich Emil Jones Republican corruption Congress