Illinois lawmakers late Thursday gave final approval to a landmark package of ethics reforms designed to wring out the worst excesses from a state government that has been shaken by a series of scandals.
The compromise, hammered out after months of bitter feuding and posturing between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other state officials, would create inspectors general with subpoena powers to hunt for wrongdoing in the offices of all statewide officials as well as the legislature. It would also ban officials from jumping directly from state jobs to positions at companies they regulate and would forbid registered lobbyists or their spouses from serving on state boards and commissions.
The broad package also would require unpaid advisers to Blagojevich and other statewide officeholders to file financial-disclosure statements if they are dispatched by the officials as troubleshooters, as some have been. It would also ban public officials from promoting themselves via state-paid public service announcements, posters, buttons and billboards.
The package was passed by the House 111-0 and the Senate 56-1, with Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis (R-Zion) casting the lone vote against. It represented a significant toughening of an ethics measure that was approved by the legislature in the spring but then threatened to unravel after Blagojevich used his amendatory veto power to make changes.
“On this historic night, we started giving the citizens of Illinois a reason to believe in their government again,” said Blagojevich, who worked the Senate floor while the measure was being debated. “Tonight we have taken a huge step forward toward restoring honor to public service in Illinois.”
Besides laying out guidelines for proper behavior by state workers and proscribing controversial activities that have been ingrained in the culture of Illinois government for decades, the measure establishes both civil and criminal penalties.
Under the package, state workers could be fired for violations. Some offenses could also bring misdemeanor charges that could result in up to 1 year in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
The changes would cut off state officials from one of their favorite perks: golf rounds and tennis matches paid for by lobbyists. Another favorite pastime, unlimited wining and dining of state officials by lobbyists, would be limited to a still generous $75-a-day per lobbyist, per official.
The moves have been inspired by the five-year Operation Safe Road federal investigation rooted in the scandal at the secretary of state’s office while former Gov. George Ryan ran it, as well as separate federal investigations reviewing allegations of legislative staffers’ performing political duties on state time.
But even as they approved legislation designed to improve accountability of government officials, lawmakers moved in a separate bill to authorize the State Board of Elections to wipe away up to $700,000 in unpaid fines for violations of state election law.
The fine amnesty was attached to a measure in the Democratic-controlled House that is being sought by Republicans to fix a technical problem in Illinois election law that could prevent President Bush’s name from appearing on the November ballot next year.
Combined with action taken earlier this week, the ethics overhaul bans state workers from doing political work on taxpayer time, prohibits taxpayer-funded bonuses as a reward for campaign work and prevents a lame-duck governor from padding the state payroll with cronies.
The measure also establishes ethics commissions to oversee the work of the inspectors general in the different offices. The commissions would have the power to appoint special inspectors general if conflicts arise or if there is a determination that allegations of wrongdoing are not being adequately pursued.
Long averse to stringent self-policing, lawmakers finally endorsed giving the commissions the ability to impose fines and recommend disciplinary action.
“We wanted an ethics commission with teeth,” said House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). “The significance of the agreement we have achieved here is amplified by the fact that the core provisions in this bill, the establishment of ethics commissions, inspectors general and a process to address alleged violations of ethics laws were not agreed to in the spring.”
Over the summer, Blagojevich used his amendatory veto language to strengthen ethics legislation sent to him last spring, and he blasted legislators for sending him a package he considered too weak.
But one major provision he sought, calling for a super-inspector general overseeing the entire executive branch, was viewed as a power grab by political rivals ranging from Madigan’s daughter, Democratic Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, to Republican Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.
Facing the possibility that the dispute risked enactment of the entire ethics package, Blagojevich finally backed off his super-inspector general demand.
Another change was added to address a controversy that erupted over the summer when the state’s top gaming regulator quit to go to work for a casino firm that owns Illinois riverboats. As passed, the legislation prohibits regulators of any industry from jumping to jobs in companies they monitor for at least one year after leaving the state payroll.
Though voting for the measure, some supporters questioned whether it was so complex that it would be hard not to inadvertently violate.
“I’m not going to be disingenuous and say I don’t have some concerns about the complexity of the bill and that someone acting strictly in good faith acting on behalf of a constituent may run afoul of this law,” said Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville).
Reform activists toasted the passage but called for keeping a vigilant eye on government to make sure there is proper follow-through once the bill becomes law.
“They say the devil is in the details, but the devil in this is in the enforcement” of the law once it is on the books, said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Political Reform.
House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego said the adoption was both historic and a major step in the right direction following years of scandal.
“If we’re going to put any trust back into the system, we have to do something real,” Cross said.
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Ethics reform package
Compromise ethics reform legislation approved by the Illinois General Assembly would significantly tighten oversight and regulation of the activities of state officials and employees.
WHAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD DO
– Create ethics commissions and inspectors general with subpoena powers to detect wrongdoing in constitutional offices and the legislature.
– Ban legislators and constitutional officers from appearing in broadcast or printed public service announcements and forbid them from using public money to pay for billboards, bumper stickers and other paraphernalia bearing their name or image.
– Ban state employees for one year after leaving the state payroll from working for companies about which they made regulatory, licensing or contracting decisions.
– Forbid state officials and workers from having lobbyists pay for golf and tennis or more than $75 per day in food and drink.
– Ban registered lobbyists from serving on state boards and commissions.
– Ban political contributions on state property and prohibit state workers from performing political work.
– Impose new whistleblower protections to insulate state workers.
– Forbid state officials and lawmakers from holding fundraisers in the Springfield area during most times the legislature is in session.
– Require local governments to adopt restrictions on gift-taking and political activity that are similar or stronger than those of the state.
– Forbid state officials from using state funds to print and mail newsletters or brochures in the weeks leading up to a primary or general election.
– Require unpaid advisers to the governor and other state officials to file economic disclosure statements if they act on behalf of the officials.
Chicago Tribune Source: Illinois State Legislature
