As the federal corruption trial for former Speaker Mike Madigan approaches its third week, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie is continuing her call for ethics reform and urging constituents to share their support.
Leader McCombie has spearheaded efforts to reform state ethics laws and hold elected officials accountable. Some of these commonsense measures would close existing loopholes like these:
- Indicted politicians are permitted, under Illinois law, to use their campaign war chests to pay lawyers to defend their actions, including against allegations of public corruption.
- Indicted officeholders, under Illinois law, are permitted to keep their taxpayer-funded pension and healthcare benefits while awaiting trial for public corruption.
- The Illinois Inspector General’s Office is not permitted to compel testimony from witnesses regarding allegations of corruption without first seeking legislative approval.