From State Senator Don DeWitte:
Today is the day that disgraced former Speaker of the House Mike Madigan reports to prison.
Madigan was convicted in February of this year on 10 counts including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and related corruption charges tied to a scheme with the utility Commonwealth Edison.
In June, he was sentenced to 7½ years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million.
The former Speaker filed a motion to remain out of prison while he exhausted his legal processes and appeals, and 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that motion.
Despite Madigan’s fall from power, Democrats have been unwilling to seek substantive ethics reform. The following Republican bills are currently pending in Springfield:
- Snyder Decision (SB 2165): Expands bribery and legislative misconduct to include receiving property or personal advantage after an improper act, not just in exchange for future actions. It excludes lawful campaign contributions under the Election Code. The change follows the Supreme Court’s Snyder v. United States decision, which distinguished bribes—pre-arranged payments for official acts—from gratuities, which are given after the fact without a prior agreement.
- Revolving Door (SB 1815): Employers are prohibited from knowingly offering employment, compensation, or fees to individuals barred by the Act’s revolving door restrictions. The Executive and Legislative Ethics Commissions have jurisdiction over violations and may impose penalties up to three times the total annual compensation offered.
- Lobbyists- No Promising Anything of Value (SB 53): Prohibits lobbyists and lobbying entities from offering anything of value, including campaign contributions or endorsements, in exchange for support or action on specific legislative or executive matters. It does not restrict lawful voluntary contributions.
- No Private Pay for Public Work (SB 2355): Prohibits State employees from receiving compensation from private parties for work performed within their official duties.
- SOEI Family Disclosure (SB 211): Requires anyone who files a statement of economic interest to disclose any spouse, sibling, child, or parent employed by, contracted with, or holding office in the same unit of government, including their title or the nature of their work.
- RICO Wiretap (SB 2378): Expands Illinois’ R.I.C.O. law to cover bribery, official misconduct, solicitation of misconduct, and legislative misconduct. Also allows court-ordered wiretaps for these offenses.
