SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois lawmakers and advocacy organizations believe now is the best time to pass sweeping ethics reform in Springfield. Many believe former House Speaker Mike Madigan's conviction is an important milestone in establishing accountability for leaders.
House Republicans argue lawmakers should pass bills to empower the Legislative Inspector General, improve lobbying regulation and enforce conflict of interest rules. Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) has refiled a plan to block the Legislative Ethics Commission from adopting rules requiring the Legislative Inspector General receive their approval before issuing subpoenas.
"I am hopeful, finally, that this verdict will bring forward the urgency and changes we need to eliminate the culture of corruption that plagues our state of Illinois," Spain told reporters Wednesday.
A separate plan refiled by Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) could allow the Executive Inspector General to make summary statements about allegations, violations and recommendations to address corruption. The office is already responsible for investigating fraud, abuse of power and violations of rules or laws. However, the top investigator told lawmakers last year that Illinois should also strengthen integrity in the workforce.
"What we think works better is if we do a more holistic approach and work also proactively to train and to educate so that people are either deterred or curbed from wrongdoing from the beginning, rather than just waiting until it happens," said Executive Inspector General Susan Haling.
Haling said this change could help get information about unethical behavior published in a timely manner, since reports are often unknown until years after the wrongdoing takes place.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) believes lawmakers should not be allowed to use campaign funds to pay for criminal defense. Her plan could ban lawmakers from using campaign donations to pay for attorneys, expert witnesses or investigators providing defense during a criminal or civil court case.
"Campaign funds given to us as candidates or public officials should be used as intended and stated on our filing paperwork," McCombie said. "To be clear, these dollars should not be used to defend criminal offenses or civil misconduct of bad actors."
Reform for Illinois, Change Illinois and Common Cause Illinois hope lawmakers follow through on their promise to rebuild faith in government. The organizations said failing to fix the broken system will just leave the door open for the next Madigan.
"For years, good government groups have been advocating for common sense reforms that are the norm in many other states, including strengthening oversight by empowering the Legislative Inspector General's office, improving lobbying regulation and revolving door rules, reducing abuse of our campaign finance system, and enforcing conflict of interest rules," the organizations said Wednesday. "A number of these policies would be new only to the legislature, already existing in Illinois' executive branch and at the local level."
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