Ethics Bill Will Focus on Revolving Door, Lobbyists, Financial Disclosures
Former State Representative Luis Arroyo leaves the federal courthouse in Chicago after being arraigned on corruption charges in 2019. After a flurry of indictments and guilty pleas among sitting and former legislators, it appears the General Assembly is about to take up a massive ethics bill.
You’ve seen the names:
They’re current and former legislators who have been indicted on corruption charges in just the last couple of years. Some were lobbyists, some not.
Add former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s ties to the long-running Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme, and there’s been a clamoring from good government groups and a bipartisan mix of legislators calling for ethics reform.
The Illinozie has learned Senate Democrats plan to bring an ethics proposal to the floor as soon as next week.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) focuses on three main things: a “cooling off” or “revolving door” period for legislators before they can become lobbyists, limiting sitting legislators from registering as lobbyists of another government body, and strengthening the state’s financial disclosure filings.
Her staff told us Gillespie was unavailable Thursday.
Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove), the top Republican on the Senate Ethics Committee, says the two sides are divided on the wording of the revolving door period. Curran says the bill includes a six month cooling off, but would allow a lawmaker to resign their seat, potentially the day before their term ends, and begin lobbying the next day.
“It’s a pretty blatant and glaring loophole,:” he said.
Curran says Senate Republicans want a one-year revolving door provision without any loopholes.
Curran also says the bill does not prohibit lawmakers from lobbying local units of government. Then-Rep. Luis Arroyo was registered to lobby the Chicago City Council when he was indicted for allegedly trying to bribe a sitting State Senator. He wants it banned altogether.
“It’s more a proposal that gets at making sure there’s no mixing of relationships,” Curran says.
Curran praised efforts to reform the state’s financial disclosure filings for lawmakers, elected officials, and some appointees. The current forms require little detail and rarely give the public information about what conflicts lawmakers may or may not have.
“It’s something we think the majority party gets mostly right,” says Curran. “It is a big enhancement on the Statement of Economic Interest. It does define what debts have to be disclosed in a more narrow manner than what the Senate Republicans were proposing, but on it’s face, it’s a big improvement.”
Curran says he’s expecting an amendment that would increase the independence of the Legislative Inspector General. That amendment could be filed as soon as Friday. He says he’s hopeful the amendment also addresses some of the GOP concerns in the legislation.
Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park), is expected to sponsor the package in the House. Burke says she shares many of the priorities outlined in the Senate legislation.
Burke says she’s aware of the difference of opinion in the wording of the Senate revolving door provision, and wouldn’t give a specific amount of time she supports. Burke says she’s waiting to see if the Senate amendment clears the language up or if the House will be forced to wade into the details. But she says there’s more to a revolving door provision than meets the eye.
“There were concerns [in the House committee] about having a lengthy revolving door period and its impact on women and people of color who are less represented as people who go on to lobby and advocate and consult,” she said. “They’re only fairly recently becoming represented in the ranks of elected officials, as well. There was some discussion about how the revolving door impacts the diversity of people who are going to help make policy.”
Burke also says most lawmakers are just looking for clarity in the economic disclosure statements.
“What you hear from members a lot is that it’s difficult to understand what exactly is being asked for,” she said. “So, I think most people would welcome a plain English explanation of what needs to be disclosed in these statements.”
Burke will be sworn in as Mayor of Evergreen Park in mid-May, and will continue to serve as State Representative. Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) was also elected Mayor in his town earlier this month. Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) also serves as Mayor of Rosemont.
Burke says she doesn’t believe there are ethical concerns serving two branches of government at the same time.
“You’re making policy for every single entity in the state,” she said. “I think many occupations are going to have tension [to some issues].
There are no provisions in the bill limiting service in both state and municipal government.
But, it appears, one way or another, both sides appear serious about passing an ethics package. before adjournment May 31.
“The momentum appears to be there to pass meaningful ethics reform,” Curran said.
