McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) wants to know what’s taken Democrats in Springfield so long to join the fight for ethical reforms.

“I welcome them finally joining us, but we’ve been proposing many of these measures since last fall and have been given no support,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “This is something that’s desperately needed and partisanship has no place in any of it.”

With longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan now embroiled in a widening federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, some Democrat legislators are now pushing a package of nine reform measures they insist will quickly lead to the kind of culture change in Springfield most agree is critically needed. Heading the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

Ugaste warns Democrats just talking a good game won’t be enough. 

“Like I said, I welcome anyone’s proposals for ethics reform, but if past history tells us anything you wonder if what will come from Democrats will be enough,” he said. “There have been all kinds of committees in the past and still here we are because if the speaker hasn’t been willing to approve anything the plan hasn’t gone anywhere.”

If he had his way, Ugaste said he’d like to see is Gov. J.B. Pritzker reconvening the General Assembly so it could deal with the issue as an entire body.

“That would be a good start,” he said. “If he did that, I think the pressure would be so great on every lawmaker to get something done that we might actually be able to, especially with this being an election year and voting day being so close.”