Illinois GOP frustrated with lack of ethics reform this year: 'The House has so far failed to act'

Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Pontiac) critical of Democrats for not addressing ethics reform this legislative session. | Photo Courtesy of Rep. Tom Bennett website

By Savannah Howe

Apr 28, 2021

Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Pontiac) is one of the many Republican lawmakers annoyed that Democrats ignored tackling ethics reform this legislative session.

The State Senate Ethics Committee has not met this year, despite ethics reform being a hot-ticket item for many legislators.

"The House has so far failed to act on any major ethics reform legislation or anything to reduce the tax burden on Illinoisans, or to improve our jobs creation climate," Bennett said.

Bennett isn't the only House Republican frustrated with the Democrats this session. Earlier this month, the Pantagraph reported that other lawmakers are exasperated at the lack of action in ethics legislation, especially in the wake of former House Speaker Madigan's resignation after being tied to a federal investigation.

Republicans were hopeful that ethics would remain at the forefront this session after Madigan's resignation.

The GOP said ethics had been a centerpiece for its platform this year, but the Democrat majority bulldozes over Republican-driven bills.

"How many more cases of corruption need to be exposed before House Democrats act on ethics reform?" State Rep. David Welter said.

In January, Common Clause Illinois released a letter calling on state lawmakers to dive into the state's ethics legislation after an 87-page ethics bill tossed out in the final hours of a lame-duck session showed deep flaws, spotty addressing of issues and no real consideration of ethics concerns.

"We understand this is how a lot of legislation proceeds in Springfield," the letter read, "but the public was promised something different this time. However well-intentioned, measures presented through this rushed process do little to restore trust in government, which is the impetus for ethics reform in the first place."

The House GOP offered an "End the Silence on Illinois Corruption" petition calling for a special session on ethics reform.

Ethics reform has been a focus of the Illinois conservatives for some time.

Leading up to Madigan's resignation, an FBI probe uncovered an eight-year ComEd bribery scheme in which ComEd admitted to providing jobs, contracts and payoffs to Madigan’s associates. ComEd was allowed sharp increases to its electric rates and received $150 million in legislative benefits in exchange. ComEd paid a fine but was not required to admit any guilt. Though Madigan has been linked to the investigation, the former state representative has not been charged, and he has not admitted to any wrongdoing.

Former Rep. Luis Arroyo was charged with bribing a senator on behalf of a lobbying client. Former Sen. Tom Fullerton was indicted for embezzlement. He is accused of holding a $250,000 ghost payrolling job with the Teamsters. And former Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to taking bribes and filing a false tax return.