Peoria Standard

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is one of several GOP lawmakers demanding that Gov. J.B. Pritzker veto a bill they argue falls short of putting the state on a path toward reform.

“As Chair of the LEC, I know the toll public corruption has taken on Illinois’ resources and residents,” Tracy said in a post to Facebook.

Tracy hints she’s not surprised to see Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope walking away from her Legislative Inspector General post out of frustration over lawmakers not being committed to doing what she thinks needs to fight ethics violations.

“This Legislative Inspector General (LIG) has done an outstanding job and we thank her for her commitment to better government,” she said. “Our caucus has long supported her efforts. It is unfortunate that the majority legislative leaders did not make better use of her skills and her willingness to make some much-needed changes that would benefit all lawmakers.”

In her resignation letter, Pope charges her efforts to bring about true ethics reforms were never fully embraced by Springfield.

“When I took this job, I thought I might be able to make a difference working from the inside,” she said. “I thought I could be useful in improving the public’s view of the legislature and help bring about true ethics reform. Unfortunately, I have not been able to do so. This last legislative session demonstrated true ethics reform is not a priority.”

Tracy said Pope has held the General Assembly accountable on several occasions and since 2018 has four founded reports of wrongdoing to which the LEC has responded. Her diligent work has brought to light more wrongdoing during her tenure than any other LIG in Illinois history.