Giannoulias Backs Ethics Reform Legislation
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias threw his support behind a lobbying reform bill Monday.
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In spite of the pending criminal trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and the indictment of five different legislators in recent years, most Democrats have been silent on increased ethics reform.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who has battled his own ethics questions, announced Monday he’s supporting new legislation to tighten restrictions on lobbyists.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), would allow the Secretary of State to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against lobbyists and would give the office the authority to suspend or revoke lobbyist registrations.
"Illinoisans are sick and tired of scandals and ethics abuses that unfortunately have become all too common in state government,” Giannoulias said in statement Monday. “These reforms will go a long way toward making government more transparent and holding political insiders and influencers more accountable to fight corruption more effectively.”
The legislation would also allow the Secretary of State to revoke lobbying registrations or ban people from holding registrations if convicted of lobbying-related felonies or felonies that cause the loss of a state pension.
Lobbyists would also have to disclose how much clients are paying them.
West has been pushing for ethics reform legislation since last spring and had hoped to move legislation during the fall veto session, but no bill ever surfaced. We’re told West faced pushback from leadership in his efforts.
