Peoria Standard

Senate Republicans, led by Sens. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and John Curran (R-Lemont), are intent on creating a new Springfield.

“We’re here to discuss how we can best improve our processes to protect the people of Illinois and hold our politicians accountable when they break the public trust,” Tracy said in a video posted to YouTube. “As a veteran of the state House and chair of the Legislative Ethics Committee, I’m uniquely aware of the toll corruption can have on Illinois resources and working systems. “

Tracy argues all the recent controversy stemming from Democratic lawmakers who have either found themselves under investigation or facing indictment have raised questions about the very nature of how Springfield does its business.

“There is no doubt that the probe and indictments that have riddled the Democratic caucus have many people concerned about the ethics standards and procedures of our state government,” she said. “We’re committed to reforming the rules and procedures currently in place to allow for more transparency in our government.”

Republicans argue Democrats have been anything but transparent in the way they’ve handled the map redistricting job now underway. While the job of overseeing redistricting is typically left to the party in power, Republicans are hoping to have more of a say this cycle given that Census Bureau data traditionally relied on to complete the job won't be available by an end-of-June deadline. The data was delayed by the pandemic.

In addition, Republicans now see Gov. Pritzker backing away from the pledge he made as a candidate to veto any map drawn by politicians as a major red flag, particularly given the state is already losing one of its 18 congressional districts because of the state's dwindling population.

“More than anything, we’re here to restore the people of Illinois’ faith in our government,” Tracy added. “They have to be tired of Illinois pols and their political reputation preceeding itself. We need to throw open the windows and let some fresh air in to clean out the smoke-filled back rooms. This year the Senate Republicans introduced more than a dozen bills aimed at curbing corruption in Springfield. To date, none have been heard. They deserve to have discussion, discourse and action.”

Curran agrees.  

“I spent 19 years as assistant state’s attorney in Cook County,” he said. “We stand here today to demand more and better of General Assembly. We must unleash the resources of the attorney general’s office in battling public corruption.  We must pass meaningful ethics reform to move Illinois forward.”