The Illinois Senate joined the House in rejecting Governor Blagojevich’s “improvements” to a long-awaited ethics reform, HB 824. The Senate voted 55-0 to override a gubernatorial veto, an action which guarantees that the measure will become law, without the changes pushed by the Governor.
Under the legislation, anyone with a state contract valued at $50,000 or more will be prohibited from donating to officials who can award the contract.
Senator Murphy has made ethics and government reforms a top priority during his first term. In addition to serving as a sponsor of HB 824, Murphy has proposed a number of other key ethics reforms, including recent legislation to end practices that let politicians anoint their successors. He’s also proposed ending the stranglehold that legislative leaders can have over the House and Senate by limiting the terms of those leaders and by requiring that any measure sponsored by a majority of legislators must receive a hearing and cannot be bottled up by the legislative leadership.
Other reforms would open the state budget up to more scrutiny and restrict the ability of lawmakers to add unidentified lump sums and other earmarks to the budget.
Murphy Calls for Action on Ethics Reforms
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Senator Matt Murphy recently participated in a press conference in downtown Chicago to call on Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) to quit stalling on ethics reforms. Murphy was joined by legislators and state officials from both parties to call for the Senate to return to Springfield and approve “Pay-to-Pay” Reforms.
Murphy also highlighted his legislation that would prevent Senate leaders from blocking measures that have the support of a majority of legislators. Although a majority of Senators signed on to the ethics reforms, Jones was able to use his power as Senate President to prevent a vote by the full Senate.
If you cannot view the video, Click Here to view Sen. Murphy’s comments on You Tube.
Week in Review September 8 – 12
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Springfield, Ill. – House lawmakers voted to reverse Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s effort to kill ethics reforms, but because Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) refuses to reconvene the Senate, the reforms have been jeopardized.
President Jones’ action by inaction could kill long-awaited ethics reforms. House Bill 824 was negotiated and approved by lawmakers in the spring but, using his amendatory veto power, in late August the Governor made substantial changes that most observers said were designed to kill the bill.
