Macon Reporter

Veteran state Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is one of those leading the charge among a group of lawmakers now demanding less talk and more action when it comes to bringing real ethics reform to Springfield.

“Not only do we have to enact laws to hold legislators more accountable, but we also need to change how government works,” said Halbrook, who is joined in the coalition by fellow state Reps. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

“We need to end (cost of living adjustments) for legislators,” Halbrook added. “We need term limits and we need structural changes in the way the House and Senate are run to give the minority party the opportunity to have their bills considered. We must enact reforms that will prevent the abuse of power in Illinois.”

Longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan now finds himself at the center of  a federal corruption probe involving ComEd in which investigators point to a pay-for-play scheme where associates known to be close to Madigan were steered payments and benefits as a way of currying favor with him.

With a growing number of Democratic lawmakers having also recently come out in favor of some level of reform, Halbrook argues one thing is clear. 

“It is time to do more than talk about reform,” he said. “We know what needs to be done. It is time we bring the legislature back to Springfield and pass the reforms we need to end the culture of corruption that has plagued our state for far too long.”

Chief among the reforms the group is calling for is House Bill 4810, which would create an independent Legislative Inspector General’s Office.

Other bills being pushed for include HB4811, banning legislators from lobbying any unit of government while serving in the legislature, and HB 4087, which prohibits a political committee from using funds for a criminal defense case.