Tracy’s ethics reform bills await committee hearings

The Illinois State Senate Ethics Committee met for the first time on April 21st, four months after the start of the new General Assembly.

SB004, introduced by Senator Don Harmon on the 29th of January, looks to make changes to the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

State Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) credits Senate Bill 4 for starting the conversation on ethics reforms but says much more can be done. “The good news is that we are finally talking about ethics reforms, but the reforms should be stronger and can be better with the input of all lawmakers,” Tracy said.

“Ethics reform should not be a partisan issue. We have a common goal of improving the system to better serve Illinoisans. We share many of the same ideas for reform, and we all need to be working together to pass real ethics reforms.”

Tracy has introduced a number of bills on ethics:

• Senate Bill 550 would prohibit a member of the General Assembly from lobbying local governments or the state’s Executive Branch for compensation. The legislation also prohibits lawmakers’ spouses and immediate family members from lobbying for compensation at any level of government. An exception is allowed for lobbying as part of the member’s official duties as a member of the General Assembly.
• Senate Bill 551 would require more information to be disclosed in the Quarterly Reports filed by the Legislative Inspector General. The reports will be required to include the total number of founded reports (currently complaints) forwarded to the Attorney General.
• Senate Bill 549 prohibits a General Assembly member to negotiate for employment with a lobbying entity while in office. It also provides a “revolving door” prohibition on former members of the General Assembly lobbying the General Assembly within one year of leaving office.

None of Tracy’s ethics reform bills have been given a hearing.

She says she hopes that discussions become more inclusive of ideas so that the final package of bills will root out corruption and being to restore the public’s trust in the legislative process and legislators.