Decatur Herald & Review
Nov. 21, 2003
By PAT GUINANE -- H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

Illinois General Assembly approves ethics reform package

SPRINGFIELD -- The General Assembly approved extensive state government reforms Thursday intended to clarify ethical quandaries, impose rigid restrictions on political activities and restore public confidence.
"If we're going to put any trust back into the system, we needed to do something real and not just for show," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. "I think this is as real and as meaningful and as sweeping (as anything) that we've ever done in this state."

Public faith in government is a weighty topic in a state where leaders of both political parties have drawn the attention of federal investigators. Federal investigations have included House Speaker Michael Madigan, chairman of the state Democratic Party, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, and state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, head of the Illinois Republican Party. None have been charged with a crime.

Most notable, and perhaps most egregious among the ethical lapses, are the misdeeds uncovered from former Gov. George H. Ryan's tenure as secretary of state. Ryan's campaign fund and Scott Fawell, his former chief of staff, have been found guilty of fraud in a federal licenses-for-bribes investigation that has netted more than 50 convictions. Ryan himself has not been charged.

"I think it's a historic day for Illinois. It's a new beginning for Illinois," Gov. Rod Blagojevich said after the Senate approved the bill Thursday night. "This is landmark, historic legislation unlike anything we've ever seen before."

This year, legislators have cooperated to fashion rules that would put an end to political work on state time, eliminate a number of perks lawmakers enjoy and enhance the general level of scrutiny applied to state employees, elected officials and members of policy-setting boards.

The legislation meets or exceeds standards contained in a bill Cross pushed in the House this spring, only to see the Senate gut it, prompting a Blagojevich veto.

"We've come finally to an agreement on this bill," Madigan said.

The reform package passed through the House and Senate Thursday.

The end result is a bill that:

n Requires annual ethics training for all state employees.

n Installs an inspector general with subpoena power for the legislature, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller and auditor general.

n Creates two independent ethics commissions to oversee the actions of the inspectors general in the executive and legislative branches.

n Prohibits state employees from going to work in industries that they regulated for a period of one year after leaving the state payroll.

n Bans state-funded public service announcements that prominently feature the names or images of state officials. The ban also applies to bumper stickers, magnets, buttons, billboards and other promotional items.

n Places a limit of $100 per year on individual gifts lawmakers can accept from one source. Also closes a previous loophole allowing lawmakers to accept an unlimited amount of free golf and tennis.

n Puts a daily limit of $75 on food and drinks lawmakers can accept.

It also addresses the shadow-government provision called for during the veto session by Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

Under the provision, any communications made to key policy bodies, such as the Illinois Gaming Board, the Prisoner Review Board or the Illinois Commerce Commission must be recorded. In addition, unpaid advisers to the executive branch, including the governor, must file statements detailing their financial interests.

Violations of the new ethics law can trigger misdemeanor charges as well as fines of up to $5,000.

Pat Guinane can be reached at 789-0865