GOVERNMENT

Democratic lawmakers propose ethics changes in Illinois

Doug Finke The State
Journal-Register
Illinois state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, is one of 13 Democratic lawmakers who has signed on to a series of ethics reform bills.

SPRINGFIELD — Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate are proposing a nine-bill package of ethics legislation that they want the General Assembly to take up during the veto session later this year.

The bills cover lobbying, legislative and leadership reforms. They are geared at addressing ethics issues that have surfaced in recent months as no fewer than three legislators faced federal charges for various alleged wrongdoing.

“We share the very important goal of restoring trust in our state government by making it both more accountable and transparent for the taxpayers and the citizens of Illinois,” said Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill.

Manar said he thinks the measures could receive broad support from Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate.

The bills include:

  • A ban on state legislators also serving as lobbyists.
  • Banning lawmakers from immediately becoming lobbyists in the General Assembly after they leave office.
  • Better defining what activities are considered lobbying.
  • Fuller disclosure of outside income earned by lawmakers.
  • Creating an official censure process for lawmakers who violate ethics laws.
  • Strengthening the office of legislative inspector general, including allowing the office to initiate its own investigations.
  • Establishing limits on the time a lawmaker can serve as a legislative leader.
  • Allowing for temporary removal of legislative leaders and committee chairs who are facing criminal charges.
  • Ending an exemption from the Human Rights Act for employees of the General Assembly.

“The Legislature needs a new moral compass,” said Sen. Iris Martinez, D-Chicago. “The people have lost trust in the General Assembly.”

There were 16 Democratic lawmakers who signed on to the proposals Thursday. They said their ideas are not a substitute for recommendations that are still expected from a commission appointed last year to develop stronger ethics laws.

Republicans have been pressing for stronger ethics laws for months after three Democratic lawmakers were charged with crimes last year. They renewed those demands after federal prosecutors said that Commonwealth Edison gave jobs and contracts to allies of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to curry favor with him. Madigan has not been charged with any wrongdoing, has said he’s done nothing wrong and said he’s not pushed legislation favorable to the utility.

Republican lawmakers wondered what took the Democrats so long.

“Many of the legislative fixes proposed by the House and Senate Democrats today have been introduced in bill form since November 2019. I just wonder where they have been,” said Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, a member of the commission set up to recommend new ethics laws.

Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, another commission member, said the group hasn’t met since March 5.

“Other state committees, commissions and panels have met multiple times since early March, but the Joint Commission on Lobbying & Ethics Reform has not,” Wehrli said. “We did not finalize our work, and we did not finalize our report. Today’s press conference was completely out of touch with the reality on the ground.”

Last year, Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, was charged with embezzlement for allegedly receiving a salary and benefits from a labor union for which he did little or no work.

Then, federal agents raided the offices of former Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, and seized files connected with his official duties. He later pleaded guilty to federal bribery and tax evasion charges.

Former Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, was charged with attempting to bribe a state senator into supporting legislation that benefited a client of Arroyo’s lobbying activities.

Some of the Democrats’ proposed ethics bills would address some of the issues involved in those cases. Democrats, though, insisted they weren’t pressing the ethics bills because of the latest controversy surrounding Madigan.

“It isn’t about just one person. It never has been and never will be,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who has been critical of Madigan.

Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, said the Legislature passed ethics reforms a couple of years ago in the wake of the Me Too movement.

“This is about adopting ethics changes that will really address what has been a systemic culture,” Bush said.

“The culture in Springfield is broken,” said Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago. “We believe these are proposals that really do try to help address that.”

Doug Fine: doug.finke@sj-r.com, 217-788-1527, @dougfinkesjr