As the legislature enters the final weeks of its spring session, strengthening the state’s ethical safeguards doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the top of the agenda in Springfield.
That is a disappointment to State Representative Patrick Windhorst of
Metropolis, who said this is one of the biggest problems the state has.
"We've seen time and again politicians get arrested, charged, indicted and even sent to prison. We have to address the issue. The time is now to do it, we're in the waning days of session and we need to bring something forward that makes our ethics laws the strongest in the country."
Windhorst says some Democrat leaders have suggested an overarching ethics package could emerge in the final weeks before the legislature’s May 31 adjournment deadline. But that worries reform advocates who fear an eleventh-hour proposal will pop up as a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposition loaded with more loopholes.
