Macon Reporter

Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is disappointed with the fact that even after another member of the legislative body is being investigated for ethics issues, no ethics reforms have been devised.

"Here we are, it’s Groundhog Day for me, four years, four end-of-sessions and still no ethics reform. Year after year, none," Caulkins said from the House floor on April 9. "We did pass some bill that was termed ethics reform … We now have another member of this body under investigation and we still have not addressed ethics reforms. The people of this state look at this body and they lump us all together and it's beyond the pale. We have to make a commitment that we must address ethics reform if we're going to restore the confidence and the trust of the people of this state. Another year has gone by without it and it's a tragedy."

Several Illinois lawmakers have been under investigation in recent years for ethical issues. The latest is Democratic Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-South Holland), who is also the mayor of Calumet City. Earlier this month, it was announced that Jones was under a federal criminal investigation for tax issues regarding campaign funds. No charges have been filed.

In January, the U.S. Attorney's Office issued a grand jury subpoena to the Illinois State Board of Elections regarding three campaign funds that Jones is in charge of.

The January subpoena was seeking quarterly campaign reports all the way back to 2015 for three funds: Jones for Mayor, Jones for State Representative and Citizens for Jones.