From The Daily Herald:

Governor seeks to improve ethics
By Eric Krol Daily Herald Political Writer

Gov. Rod Blagojevich will hire an inspector general to look for corruption
in state government and require 40,000 state employees to take ethics
training.

The new governor's actions Thursday are meant to make good on his
campaign promise to clean up state government in light of the scandals
that rocked the Republicans out of power.

"If we do not end business as usual in Springfield, we run the risk
that public corruption will be associated with Illinois government
just as earthquakes are associated with California and hurricanes
are associated with Florida," Blagojevich said at a Chicago news conference.

The inspector general's office will have authority over all state
agencies and boards and commissions under Blagojevich's control, but
not the General Assembly or other statewide offices.

When asked how to ensure the inspector general would be independent,
Blagojevich said the person likely would get a four-year term to provide
job security.

A confidential hotline also will be set up so the public can report
malfeasance. About 40 state workers will be part of the new inspector
general's office.

Blagojevich also will require ethics training to be completed within
the next six months for the 40,000 workers under his control. The
training will stress that workers not do political work on state time
nor accept gifts or bribes. A third action will allow the governor
to punish employees who retaliate against whistleblowers.

The changes drew praise from Cindy Canary, executive director of
the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, who said the prevention
approach is a good one. She said the state still needs a law creating
an independent ethics commission.