By Christopher Wills
The Associated Press
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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers may be close to giving new investigative powers to the inspector general at the secretary of state's office, where bribery led to a scandal that has engulfed Gov. George Ryan.
The legislation would make the inspector general a permanent position so that no future secretary of state could abolish it.

The inspector general would have authority to subpoena witnesses and documents to investigate corruption in the secretary of state's office. His agents would be sworn police officers.

Refusing to cooperate would be a misdemeanor, and officials would be barred from retaliating against any employees who help with an investigation.

"I think this is a big step in the right direction of restoring public trust in the secretary of state's office and in state government," the sponsor, Rep. Steve Davis (D-Bethalto), said Tuesday.

But Senate President James "Pate" Philip questioned how much good a more powerful inspector general, whether for the secretary of state or other agencies, would do.

"How many inspector generals do we have? Five? Tell me if any of them have ever done anything," the Wood Dale Republican said. "We fund these people and give them powers, but I don't think they've ever stopped anything that I can figure out."

Secretary of State Jesse White proposed the changes last year at the request of his new inspector general, Jim Burns, a former federal prosecutor. Both the House and Senate approved versions of the bill, but they could not agree on the details.

White spokesman Randy Nehrt said he believes the latest version is acceptable to both chambers. It passed the House unanimously last week.

One change bars the inspector from looking into issues of waste and inefficiency. Others take out the law's automatic expiration and put some routine union documents off limits from the inspector's subpoenas.

George Ryan's inspector general, Dean Bauer, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice by thwarting investigations into corruption that might have embarrassed his boss. Ryan's former chief of staff, Scott Fawell, has been charged with gutting the inspector general's office to halt investigations and then faking documents to make it appear the move was a cost-saving measure.

Federal prosecutors have convicted 42 people of crimes stemming from Ryan's two terms as secretary of state.

Davis said nothing in his legislation guarantees that future inspectors will do a good job. But the measure does set certain minimum standards, such as five years' experience in law enforcement, and requires the Senate to vote on the secretary of state's nominee.

That may make it more difficult for a future secretary of state to install a political crony in the job, Davis said.

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