Pass Ethics Reform Now!
Former State Rep. Luis Arroyo enters the federal courthouse in Chicago last February to face tax charges.
OPINION
Here’s a message for Republicans and liberal “do gooder” Democrats in Springfield: you can come together to pass important bi-partisan legislation tomorrow.
Speaker Welch, President Harmon, Governor Pritzker, it’s time to take notice: your constituents want, no, check that, they demand you pass real, substantive ethics reform right now.
Let’s just look back at what has happened recently:
February 18, 2021: Former House Speaker Michael Madigan resigns. He lost power after his role in a Commonwealth Bribery scheme eroded his support in his caucus.
September 11, 2020: Sen. Terry Link resigns five days before pleading guilty to tax charges. He was also alleged to wear a wire in the case of former Rep. Luis Arroyo.
January 27, 2020: Former Sen. Martin Sandoval indicted, and pleads guilty on bribery and tax evasion charges in a red light camera scheme. He died of COVID-19 complications in December.
November 1, 2019: Rep. Luis Arroyo resigns a week after being indicted on bribery charges.
August 2, 2019: Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) indicted for holding a no-show job with a labor union. He has pleaded “not guilty.” The case is still outstanding.
That’s just a sampling of the last two years, as COVID-19 may have allowed these things to slip through the collective public consciousness. I don’t have to tell you there’s a long history of legislative corruption in Illinois.
Here’s the most important thing for you to take from this: passing ethics reform isn’t hard. In fact, the legislature could do it in one day.
All they have to do is pass three bills to show they’re serious:
HB2749, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) would require a 2-year “cooling off” period between when a legislator leaves the General Assembly and registers as a lobbyist. Even lobbyists that are completely ethical look like they’re taking a payday when they vote on issues on Friday and start lobbying on them Monday.
HB3751, sponsored by Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), would require more information to be disclosed on the inane and unclear “Statement of Economic Interest” filed by members of the General Assembly and candidates. Look up a legislator or constitutional officer you know here, and see if you can find out where they make their money. For instance, billionaire Governor JB Pritzker filed a 14-page addendum that lists exactly 0 dollar amounts. Batinick’s bill would require lawmakers to disclose income, securities, blind trusts, property, and a list of debts over $10,000.
HB105, sponsored by Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago) would prohibit the spouse of a legislator from having a paid appointment to a state board or commission. A notable exxample is Carrie Zalewski, the wife of Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), who chairs the Illinois Commerce Commission. Carrie Zalewski was paid $137,200 in 2020. While this is no indictment of the job Mrs. Zalewski does, I’ve heard she’s very bright and very skilled, but it obviously raises questions.
There are obviously many, many more necessary changes to state government, and we should all hope that public pressure starts to move in the direction of reform. But, in the meantime, lawmakers should pester their leaders, flood Speaker Welch’s phones with calls, and not let up until these three bills are passed.
The first thing the legislature needs to do to show it’s serious about cleaning up Springfield is doing something. These three bills are a good start to showing they’re serious.
Lawmakers, pass these ethics reform measures now.