Sangamon Sun

Veteran state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) can think of far more reasons than he cares to for why Illinois Democrats’ ethics reform package should not be taken seriously.

“Since I’ve been sworn in, four different lawmakers in Springfield have been either indicted or convicted of felonies and they’re all from the same party,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “Now, we find out the head of the party is currently under federal investigation. I say that to say any reform package that’s passed needs to be a bipartisan effort because the party with all the power all of sudden stepping forward to say they’re going to do ethics reform doesn’t pass the smell test.”

With Madigan now at the center of a widening federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, a group of Democratic lawmakers are now pushing a package of nine reform measures they insist will quickly lead to the kind of culture change in Springfield most agree is critically needed. Topping the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

“This can’t happen with Mike Madigan still being part of the process because he’s too big a part of the problem,” McClure added. “How can we take anything this group is saying seriously when they aren’t even brave enough to mention the speaker by name?”

McClure said he has a litmus test in mind for Democrats looking to show how serious they are in their newfound efforts.

“How about calling for the resignations of state Sen. (Tom) Cullerton and state Sen. (Terry) Link,” he said. “Both of them are now facing federal charges. Why is this group coming forward talking about ethics reform when we got two democrat senators still in Springfield while facing federal charges and no one is doing anything about it?”