North Cook News

Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) says a new law banning Chicago aldermen and city employees from working as lobbyists is an absolutely vital piece in the greater push for statewide ethics reform.

“Most citizens would agree that Illinois, with its more than 7,000 units of government, means that there is an overlap and opportunity for using one’s official position to benefit oneself or their family members in an inappropriate way,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “This is definitely a step in the right direction.”

But Morrison is quick to add that it is only a first step for the state with the reputation as the most corrupt in the U.S.. The same University of Illinois-Chicago survey in which Illinois finished last also found that Chicago rates as the second most corrupt city.

Longtime Chicago Ald. Ed Burke faces a 14-count federal indictment.

“I’m sure that some of the recent high-profile cases involving certain individuals and the allegations of corruption against them were a factor in this,” Morrison said.

At least 30 Chicago aldermen have been convicted of corruption over the last four-plus decades. Currently, 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke, the city’s longest-serving alderman, faces a 14-count federal indictment.

More recently, longtime state lawmakers Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) and state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) have both been forced to step down from office after being implicated in separate probes alleging bribery and kickbacks.

“We’re not finished with pushing these ethical reforms,” Morrison said. “House Republicans have filed bills that House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) should bring up for a vote so that we can ultimately send them to Gov. Pritzker’s desk.”

With the support of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the new bill also restricts the outside employment of city aldermen and gives watchdog groups more power to investigate violations.