Illinois senators aim to ban campaigning by agency directors

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A bipartisan pair of Illinois senators have introduced legislation that would ban state agency directors and other high-level gubernatorial appointees from using their influence or authority to sway elections.

Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar and Republican state Sen. Sam McCann announced the proposal Wednesday, saying it's an important expansion of Illinois' ethics laws.

Manar says agency directors shouldn't spend their time campaigning, but running their respective agencies. He says the measure is similar to restrictions at the federal level and in other states.

The proposal wouldn't put new restrictions on officials' financial donations to campaigns.

The lawmakers say the issue isn't about any one party or election but that they decided to push for the change after various cabinet members named by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner recently appeared in campaign materials on behalf of GOP candidates.