Former Democratic governor Pat Quinn is joining a Republican state lawmakers in pushing for Illinois to have stronger ethics standards for state and local elected leaders.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Former Democratic governor Pat Quinn is joining a Republican state lawmaker in pushing for Illinois to have stronger ethics standards for state and local elected leaders.

Quinn and Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) are calling for a constitutional amendment to allow Illinois voters to enact ethics reform through petition initiatives and referendums. 

They hope lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will support the idea and pass it out of both chambers by May 5 so the amendment question can appear on the November ballot.

"In the Midwest, states like Missouri, and Michigan and Ohio have had ethics initiative opportunities since 1912," Quinn said. "A matter of fact, in 2018, Missouri passed Amendment 1 for a 'Clean Missouri,' a comprehensive ethics initiative that the people put on the ballot."

Twenty-two states currently have an initiative process for voters to enact ethics standards for politicians through binding referendum. 

"We know that the rash of ethical lapses in the state of Illinois continues to be a very huge problem for us," said Spain. "Yet, there's been frustration over the lack of urgency for the 177 lawmakers that are part of the Illinois General Assembly to deliver on ethics reforms that are needed in the state of Illinois."

Spain and other members of the House Republican Caucus have filed multiple plans in recent years to enact strict ethics reform, but their proposals have never moved to the House floor. Spain noted that the House Ethics & Elections Committee rarely discusses ethics legislation. Quinn and Spain argue that their proposal deserves a hearing.

"This is the minimum that should happen," Quinn said. "There should be a robust hearing to let the people of Illinois have their say on the initiative process."

Constitutional amendments require 71 votes in the House and 36 votes in the Senate before they can appear on ballots.

"We've made it far too difficult for citizens to have input and control about the composition and expectations of their government," Spain added. "We need to change that."

Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) signed on as a co-sponsor of Spain's House joint resolution for the constitutional amendment. The plan has not been assigned to a House committee.

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