Illinois House Republicans unveiled another package of proposed ethics reforms Thursday that they say are prompted by the wide-ranging federal probe into alleged corruption by some high-profile Chicago-area Democrats.
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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republicans unveiled another package of proposed ethics reforms Thursday that they say are prompted by the wide-ranging federal probe into alleged corruption by some high-profile Chicago-area Democrats.
Speaking at a news conference in Chicago, Minority Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, said the reforms are needed to restore public trust in Illinois state government. He challenged Democrats, who control both chambers of the General Assembly with supermajorities, to act on the proposals when lawmakers return to the Statehouse for the last three days of the veto session next week.
“Illinois government has sunk to an even lower low,” Durkin said. “A crisis of confidence has never been more profound.”
The GOP package includes House Bill 3954, which would require lawmakers to disclose more of their personal financial information on their statements of economic interest.
It also includes a proposed constitutional amendment, HJRCA 36, which would change the way vacancies are filled in the General Assembly by requiring special elections. Currently those vacancies are filled by party officials from the precincts within the legislative district.
Deputy Minority Leader Tom Demmer, of Dixon, said that proposal is a direct response to the recent resignation of former Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, who was arrested in October and charged with trying to bribe a state senator who was also working as a confidential FBI informant.