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* Press release…
Members of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform sought input on what could have been done to prevent recent high-profile conflicts of interest and what more must be done to hold lawmakers accountable at a hearing Thursday.
“We’re here to make systemic change, close loopholes, and root out opportunities for corrupt behavior that have been identified in recent media reports and investigations,” said state Rep. Greg Harris, who co-chairs the commission. “Yesterday, the governor talked about restoring public trust and cleaning up government. He specifically talked about dealing with disclosures of conflicts of interest, revolving door laws, and limitations on lobbying. Looking around the room as the governor talked, I was happy to see he got a rousing ovation for these three items. From the House, from the Senate, from Democrats, from Republicans. That’s a very good sign for our work. But these proposals are only as good as their details, and it is our job to fill in those details.”
Brad Cole of the Illinois Municipal League and former Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon encouraged members to update and improve the financial interest disclosures legislators are currently required to file. Cole reiterated the need for more complete lobbyist disclosures, including disclosure of lobbyists being paid to influence local governments. Aside from state government, only a handful of Illinois’ nearly 7,000 units of government have any kind of disclosure requirements for those seeking to influence decision-making by public officials.
“People deserve to know that their lawmakers are voting in their communities’ best interests, not in their own interest,” said Sen. Elgie Sims, co-chair of the commission. “We look forward to continuing to engage with experts and stakeholders in these critical discussions.”
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 2:59 pm
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-ethics-commission-beings-20191223-ytyrxpqnh5fs7mc4lhsvqoxsei-story.html
The other co-chairman of the ethics panel, Democratic Sen. Elgie Sims of Chicago, is himself registered with the city as a lobbyist. Sims, an attorney, has been paid nearly $13,000 in the past two years by consulting firm Gartner for lobbying city officials, according to city records.
Comment by Under Influenced... Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:09 pm
I wonder if there will be a mini-wave of retirements right before the effective date of any revolving door provisions.
Comment by Oak Parker Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:11 pm
If someone in the legislature is convicted of corruption, do they lose their state pension? If they dont, isnt this a way to hold them accountable?
Comment by Just Curious Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:15 pm
Please be careful when trying to determine the meaning of someone registering as a “lobbyist” with the City of Chicago. Particularly if that individual is an attorney. Out of caution many attorneys register even when they are not lobbying the City, I know lawyers who register as a precaution when doing a simple zoning matter.
Comment by Wow Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:18 pm
Wow is correct, I wonder if the combination of the Chicago Board of Ethics very broad interpretation of lobbying combined with the proposed limitations on lobbying would in effect prevent legislators from working as zoning attorneys or expediters
Comment by Oak Parker Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:23 pm
==I wonder if the combination of the Chicago Board of Ethics very broad interpretation of lobbying combined with the proposed limitations on lobbying would in effect prevent legislators from working as zoning attorneys or expediters==
Probably. You might also fall into a bad area if you own an apartment building, restaurant, accounting firm, etc as a business entity and are a local elected official from any part of the state i.e. the Library Boards, School Boards…
Comment by River Forester Thursday, Jan 30, 20 @ 3:45 pm