House OKs sweeping ethics bill

From the Chicago Tribune:

House OKs sweeping ethics bill

By Kristy Hessman
Associated Press Writer
Published May 30, 2003, 3:59 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers took the first step toward cleaning up state ethics laws and their own reputations Friday in response to scandals that have eroded public confidence in state government.

Under a sweeping ethics overhaul approved by the House, all state employees would receive annual ethics training, be banned from doing political work on state time and be protected from retaliation for turning in co-workers who break the law. State officials would not be allowed to collect campaign donations from their employees.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross said it took him, along with House Speaker Michael Madigan and other officials, the entire session to craft the detailed legislation.

"We've said we get it. We understand that we need to restore the public's trust and faith in government,'' said Cross (R-Oswego). "We understand that we've got a problem.''

Gov. George Ryan left office in January under a cloud of scandal. His former chief of staff and his campaign committee were convicted of practically turning the secretary of state's office into an arm of Ryan's political machine, using state resources and pressuring employees for donations.

Rep. Lee Daniels of Elmhurst stepped down as the state's Republican Party chairman and decided not to run for re-election as House minority leader amid similar questions about using state employees for political work.

Neither Ryan nor Daniels has been charged with any wrongdoing.

Federal prosecutors also have subpoenaed records from the Legislature's Democratic leaders, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones.

"The public's trust has been somewhat bruised and kicked around in recent years,'' said Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "This law will go a long way toward giving the public a symbol and a sign that the Illinois Legislature is very serious about doing the right thing.''

Canary said she would like to see future laws bar corporations from donating to candidates directly out of their treasuries. The measure also leaves out any limits on the size of campaign contributions, she said.

The House approved the bill 116-0, sending it to the Senate, which was expected to consider the measure quickly. Some restrictions -- such as the ban on political work on state time -- duplicate federal law, but a Cross spokesman said they were tailored specifically for Illinois government to eliminate any loopholes.

Enforcing the provisions would fall to new ethics commissions and inspectors general -- one set to oversee the Legislature and one set for all executive offices.

State employees seeking advice on ethics issues could turn to the commissions, agency "ethics officers'' or telephone hot lines.

"We are very proud of is this bill,'' said Rep. Elizabeth Coulson (R-Glenview). "It is preventive, not just punitive.''

Offenders would also face steeper jail time and fines.

Registered lobbyists could not serve on state boards or commissions that set policy. They also would face new restrictions on the gifts they can give to officials.

"This is the most significant step that's been made in decades to ensure government works the way the public is demanding that it work,'' said Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago).