Among new state laws in 2022, higher ethical standards for lawmakers, at least somewhat
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers have resolved to hold themselves to a higher ethical standard in 2022.
About 300 pieces of legislation were approved by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2021. A dominant measure was a plan to tackle ethics after bribery scandals involving both House and Senate members, a senator's admission of tax evasion and the ongoing investigation after ComEd's admission that it engaged in a long-running bribery scheme.
That investigation implicated and led to the ouster of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan, even though he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.
Like many efforts before it, the measure has been criticized. It requires additional financial disclosures from legislators and implements the first "cooling off" period before ex-legislators can begin lobbying their former colleagues, but with wide latitude.
It allows the legislative inspector general to open an investigation without the blessing of a bipartisan panel of legislators, but it withholds subpoena power.
Inspector General Carol Pope resigned in protest in July, complaining like her two predecessors that the post has no investigative teeth.
And there's no umbrella prohibition on legislators lobbying other levels of government, the main impetus for the law.