Ethics law has teeth -- but will it bite?

The compromise ethics reform package, passed by the Legislature during the veto session, comes with teeth.

But will it take a bite out of Illinois' reputation as a state that's not ready for reform?

Let's hope so. The tools are certainly there.

Following an amendatory veto by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Legislature agreed to include inspectors general who will have the power to subpoena people and bring them before ethics commissions with the power to impose fines.

The law also specifies that inspectors general should be selected "without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability." And it spells out the duty of state officers and employees to cooperate with any inspector general's investigation.

But this is Illinois, where the former inspector general for George Ryan, when he was secretary of state, is serving time in prison for obstruction of justice. The conviction of the former Ryan aide and others, as well as investigations of other offices, helped fuel the push for long-delayed ethics reforms in Illinois.

The test will be how independent the inspectors general -- appointed by those they will oversee -- and the ethics commissions (one each for the legislative and executive branches) will be.

The law also ends the practice of state officials boosting their profiles (and election-enhancing name recognition) by appearing in ads and public service announcements touting state-administered programs.

No longer will they be able to include their proper name, image or voice -- not just around elections, as the original bill specified, but any time.

The law also spells out in detail what constitutes "prohibited political activity." Most, if not all, of the actions cited are obviously political -- such as arranging fund-raisers and conducting public opinion polls for campaigns.

But what is obvious to the general population isn't always obvious to elected officials and those they employ.

Apparently, what was obvious to all this fall was that voters were fed up and ethics reform laws in Illinois needed to be strengthened. With an election on the horizon, voters were paying attention and elected officials knew it.

Illinois may never become the nation's model for ethics in government. But this reform package helps move the state away from being the national symbol for why such reforms are needed.