McHenry Times

State Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) is calling for stronger ethics laws as they pertain to legislators following the departure of the former Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope. 

Pope resigned after repeatedly butting heads with legislators and claimed that the position has the appearance of authority without actually having the ability to take action. 

Reick said on Facebook, “Yesterday was the last day on the job for Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope and no replacement has been named. We must strengthen our ethics laws and fill this position immediately to give Illinoisans the transparent, honest government they deserve.”

According to ILGA, the Office of the Legislative Inspector General was established in 2003. People who suspect that a member of the General Assembly is engaging in any form of misconduct can inform the office, which will then carry out an investigation.

Pope, the most recent LIG, announced her resignation in July. Her resignation followed the passage of an “ethics reform bill” that she said would not allow her to actually do her job. She said, “This last legislative session demonstrated true ethics reform is not a priority.”

Four highly qualified lawyers were appointed to a search committee to recommend a new LIG. Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) criticized Democratic lawmakers last month for rejecting both of the committee’s recommendations, leaving Illinois without a Legislative Inspector General.

Pope originally stated her resignation would be effective Dec. 16, but she extended the deadline to Jan. 6 to give the search committee more time to find a replacement.  However, no replacement has been found.