Ethics Push is On
Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), who chairs the House Ethics & Elections committee.
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There appears to be a push among some Democrats in Springfield to enact ethics reform legislation in the wake of the ComEd Four corruption trial that centered around former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
We’ve been hearing that a group of suburban Democrats, many of whom were among the original 19 lawmakers that defected from Madigan’s camp before he was eventually dethroned as Speaker in early 2021.
Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), who chairs the House Ethics & Elections Committee confirmed Monday he is interested in drumming up support for a new ethics package, though he didn’t discuss details.
“There is a certain number of [Democrats] who know we have an opportunity to make some reforms,” one member told us on the condition of anonymity. “It’s just a matter of dragging the establishment along with us.”
Some Democrats, including West, are scheduled to pitch House Speaker Chris Welch on an ethics package today. West confirmed a meeting is scheduled with Welch.
Any push in the House could be derailed by the Senate, though, as we’re told there’s a serious level of “reluctance” among Senate leadership to advance ethics reform in the final two weeks of the spring legislative session.