(The Center Square) – Following confirmation that the state’s top ethics watchdog overseeing lawmakers in Springfield filed to resign, GOP state lawmakers in the House are again calling for strong reforms to legislative ethics standards and rules.
Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey confirmed Tuesday he filed his resignation late last month, leaving the role vacant beginning Sept. 30.
During a press conference Wednesday, Republican lawmakers pointed to multiple bills introduced by their caucus which they said are non-partisan.
One of those bills, introduced in January, would allow the next LIG to issue subpoenas during investigations without the approval of the LEC.
Minority Floor Leader Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said the legislation would allow the next LIG to properly conduct independent investigations.
“This looks like the Fox guarding the henhouse. If the Legislative Inspector General cannot conduct investigations into unethical or even criminal behavior by members of the General Assembly, because the General Assembly stops them from doing so, what we have is a system that allows those who would be investigated to shut down that investigation,” Windhorst said.
McCuskey, while investigating claims of sexual harassment against former Rep. Harry Benton, was accused of breaking confidentiality of one female lobbyist complainant, who also said he failed to take any notes or recordings of their interviews, leading to inaccuracies in the investigator’s findings, according to a letter she sent to the LEC.
Rep. Travis Weaver, R-Peoria, pointed to more legislation he would like the majority party to take into consideration, which he said is especially pertinent to ongoing federal proceedings relating to fraud charges against Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, and her husband.
“House Republicans have multiple ethics bills ready to help clean up our state government and hold officials accountable. The majority party claims they can govern. Well, let’s see it,” Weaver said. “HB 1554 prohibits public officials from using campaign funds to pay for criminal defense and HB 1727 would prevent public officials charged or indicted on a felony from collecting pension benefits.”
Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-St. Charles, also referenced his proposed state constitutional amendment to allow recall votes of state elected officials, placing accountability in the hands of voters instead of official determinations of wrongdoing.
When asked if there should be further investigation into McCuskey’s time as LIG, Ugaste said no thorough investigation is likely needed.
“I don’t know that I need an investigation other than to look carefully at what went wrong,” Ugaste said. “We have to empower that office, we have to pass ethics reform, and if we really want to make elected officials behave themselves, we’ll pass this recall.”
The legislature is scheduled to return to Springfield for the two-week fall veto session Nov. 17, when the lawmakers hope some of their proposals will be heard.
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office didn’t respond to The Center Square’s request for comment on the Republican proposals or the LIG’s resignation.
