SE Illinois News

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) recently expressed his disapproval of the recently passed ethics bill in a video.

In June, the Illinois House passed SB 539, a bill focused on ethics reform for state lawmakers, according to Illinois Policy.

At a news conference, Windhorst said the bill didn't go as far as recommended, but that he and other GOP members voted for it because it was the only chance to codify some reform.

"The latest iteration of ethics reform passed in an omnibus bill that I voted for back in May of 2021. That legislation was the only chance legislators had to vote on ethics reforms this year," Windhorst said. "I along with others had objections to that legislation because it did not go as far as is recommended during our commission hearings, but ultimately many House Republicans voted yes because it was the only opportunity we thought we might ever have to codify at least some reform."

Windhorst said that last spring, he filed House Bill 3396, a lobbying reform bill, but that the bill is currently stuck in the rules committee.

"House Bill 3396 contains several provisions that would be improvements on the bill that passed the general assembly this past spring," Windhorst said. "First, it would strengthen the revolving door prohibition. As we noted, the one that passed in the general assembly is weak, it only has a 6-month provision which has a very large loophole, meaning that once the General Assembly ends, then a legislator is free to lobby the next day. HB 3396 sets that time period at one year or the end of a person's term in office whichever is longer."

"Our bill will have a complete prohibition of local lobbying for compensation by a member of the general assembly," Windhorst said. "It does not contain the loophole that exists in the Democratic legislation that passed this spring.

House Bill 3396 would also bolster the state's Legislative Inspector General's ability to investigate wrongdoing.

"Second, House Bill 3396 gives more power to the legislative inspector general. It allows the LIG to have subpoena power without the approval of the legislative ethics commission. It also requires reports made by the LIG be made public unless a 3/4 vote of the legislative ethics commission would prevent it."

Windhorst added that the current bill has so impaired the LIG's ability to carry out her duties, that she quit, pointing out significant deficiencies in the bill in her letter of resignation. 

"In summary, our legislation provides tougher ethics and corruption reforms that we believe is necessary and that was justified by the presentation and evidence we heard in The Joint Commission on ethics and lobbying reform," Windhorst said.