In the last week, two Democratic House members have faced ethics scandals. First, the Illinois Inspector General found “clear patterns of conduct” that were “outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House,” for allegations of sexual harassment against now-former Rep. Harry Benton.
The second case broke earlier this week, after it was reported that State Rep. Carol Ammons, her husband, and her daughter have been indicted on federal charges including pandemic/unemployment fraud, wire fraud, making a false statement, and obstruction charges.
How many ethics violations have to occur in the Illinois General Assembly before we take meaningful action? The House Republican caucus has proudly sponsored dozens of ethics-related bills. Here are a few measures that have not been called for a vote, but directly address these two heinous violations:
HB 1382 would allow the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without prior approval and require the Executive and Legislative Ethics Commissions to release the reports to the public within 60 days
HB 1554 would prohibit the use of campaign funds for a criminal defense related to misconduct in capacity as a public official, any claims of sexual harassment, or any claims of discrimination.
HB 1727 would suspend pension benefits to public officials if they’re charged with a felony connected to their public service, and permanently withhold these funds upon conviction.
It’s time for real ethics reform now!