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 It might come as a surprise to some
Illinoisans that when an ethics complaint is filed against a member of the
Illinois General Assembly, the body’s chief watchdog isn’t allowed to follow
through with an investigation.
Instead, the complaints flow to the Legislative Ethics Commission, where
lawmakers decide if an investigation should proceed. Elected officials, in other
words, determine which claims against their colleagues their designated watchdog
is permitted to pursue.
The hazard of this process is clear. Illinois lawmakers aren’t capable of
policing themselves. But a new proposal could bring some needed independence to
the legislative inspector general.
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Sen. Christina Castro,
D-Elgin, announced Dec. 7 she is introducing a bill to allow
Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter to pursue investigations
without lawmaker approval. According to Castro, this would allow
Porter to autonomously pursue investigations as complaints are filed
– eliminating the need for the Ethics Committee’s blessing
beforehand.
Not only does the
legislative inspector general face barriers to pursue effective
investigations, but until recently, the office had also been vacant
for three years.
If the proposal succeeds, it would provide more effective oversight
of state lawmakers by empowering the office to investigate ethics
claims at its own discretion – not that of its subjects.
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