South West Illinois News

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) recently spoke in support of Senate Bill 3636, an ethics reform package.

"Senate Bill 3636 encompasses several common-sense ethics reform ideas that good government groups, government watchdogs, and legislators have spent years calling for. Calls that for too long have gone unheeded by the majority party. Our legislation addresses the shortcomings within our state's lobbying restrictions and safeguards. Shortcomings that have plagued Illinois for far too long. Our package would prohibit legislators from negotiating for special interest lobbying jobs while they serve in the general assembly."

According to Open States, under the proposed bill, no legislator may, during his or her term of office, negotiate for employment with a lobbying entity. 

"Under current law it is too easy for legislators to spend their time in Springfield advocating on behalf of special interests instead of their constituents and then be rewarded with cushy lobbying jobs by special interests after they leave office," Bryant said. "Beginning in 2023, lawmakers can leave office and a mere six months after their term ends become lobbyists, hired by the same groups that yesterday were trying to influence their votes. That time frame must be expanded."

The bill would provide limitations concerning lobbying by a member of the General Assembly or his or her spouse or any immediate family member living with that member of the General Assembly. 

"A system that permits special-interests to hire legislators' spouses and children in the system opens the door to corruption," Bryant said. "(This is) a system that special interests can manipulate to influence votes on the chamber floor."

SB3636 would also prohibit former members of the General Assembly from lobbying the General Assembly within a specified period of time. 

"Additionally, we proposed strengthening the state's revolving door prohibition for general assembly members by banning legislators from lobbying on behalf of special interest for a full 12 months after leaving office," Bryant said.

"Our constituents expect us to be held to high ethical standards," Bryant said. "They must know that we are adhering to both the letter and the spirit of the law so that they can be confident their representatives are representing them and not special interests. To regain the trust of the people of our state we must close the loopholes that lawmakers have used and abused over the years."

Senate Bill 3636 was filed on Jan. 19. Twelve Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill. The bill, upon passage, would go into effect immediately. The bill is currently within the Senate Assignments Committee.