IL House Republicans argue Democrats missed opportunity to pass significant ethics reforms out of committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers left Springfield without passing any ethics reform legislation during committee deadline week.

House Republicans told reporters Friday that they are frustrated their Democratic colleagues refused to call any of the bills addressing corruption for a committee vote.

Some argue this was the perfect time to show the public that lawmakers want to close the lawmaker to lobbyist revolving door and end the use of campaign funds to pay for public corruption defense.

"When Democratic politicians were arrested, indicted, charged, convicted and incarcerated, we waited for action," said Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). "We've been disappointed time after time."

All of the House Republican ethics proposals will be sent back to the House Rules Committee, or effectively killed, unless Democratic leaders extend the deadline for bills to be discussed in committee.

The House Ethics & Elections Committee has only discussed elections bills during several subject matter hearings since session started in January.

House Republicans and multiple advocacy organizations renewed calls for ethics reform following former House Speaker Mike Madigan's conviction last month.

Many 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) refiled a plan this year to block the Legislative Ethics Commission from adopting rules requiring the Legislative Inspector General receive their approval before issuing subpoenas.

Windhorst filed a plan to prohibit lawmakers and constitutional officers from lobbying local governments and Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) hoped lawmakers would pass a measure to require a 72-hour window for the public to have the chance to review the state budget before either chamber votes on the spending plan.

"With indictment after indictment and conviction after conviction, not a single ethics reform proposal we've introduced will even be debated in the chamber this spring," said Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud). "It's shameful."