Leader Cross and Rep. Wait Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Illinois’ Ethics Laws

Rockford, IL — House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and State Representative Ron Wait (R-Belvidere) are introducing new legislation that would strengthen Illinois’ ethics laws and help further crack down on pay-to-play style politics.

The proposed legislation would include state leases among the prohibited insider deals between campaign contributors and state officials.  Specifically, the bill would prohibit any person or business who has contributed to the winning campaign of a constitutional officer from entering into any lease of real or personal property with a state agency or department under that officer.  The legislation would also apply to immediate family members of persons who have made campaign contributions.

“Our proposal will tighten current ethics laws and ensure that state leases are not traded in exchange for campaign donations.  We have seen too many instances of political contributors reaping lucrative state leases and that has to stop,” said Leader Cross.

A May 13 Chicago Tribune article pointed to suspicion that convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko had a secret interest in a state contract lease worth more than $11 million.  The article stated: “Despite state laws intended to prevent state officials and their families from benefiting from lucrative state lease deals, secret owners have been an ongoing problem in state government for decades.”

“Given the style of politics Illinois has suffered under Rod Blagojevich, it’s just common sense to take contributors out of the mix for state contracts and leases.  It’s time to change the way Illinois does business,” Rep. Wait said.

The proposed legislation includes an enforcement mechanism which would require those who make campaign contributions to a constitutional officer to register with the State Board of Elections.  Every state officer or employee who serves under a constitutional officer would be required to consult the registry prior to entering into any lease on behalf of the state.

The legislators announcement comes days after the amendatory veto and executive order issued Monday by Governor Blagojevich on long-awaited ethics reform legislation contained in House Bill 824.

“No state in the union needs reform more than Illinois.  The tactics of delay instituted by not only Rod Blagojevich, but Democrats in the General Assembly on issues ranging from ethics to job creation, need to end,” Cross said.  “While some of the amendatory vetoes make sense, such as a ban on double dipping, we do not want to see the ethics reform stalled because of insider maneuvers and stall tactics.  We need ethics reform and we need it now.”

Representative Wait added that he supports changes to the legislative pay raise process, pointing out that he sponsored legislation to deny the pay raises this year.

“We can look at running a separate bill to change how pay raises are voted on, so that legislators would have to vote yes to get a raise,” Wait said.  “The bottom line is that we need ethics reform now.  I support overriding the Governor’s amendatory veto and hope to pass our proposal banning state leases to political contributors and their families.”