* From the former Illinois News Network…

A package to address how ethics complaints against state lawmakers are handled at the Illinois statehouse is coming together, but it likely won’t include full independence for the legislative watchdog. […]

State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, said she’s been working with various lawmakers and staff attorneys on an omnibus bill that will include rights for those alleging ethical violations.

“We just want to make sure that we’re not making a problem where there isn’t a problem and that we have a clear solution on how to go forward,” Willis said. […]

As to the ethics complainants’ rights provision, “we’re doing our best to do that,” Willis said.Willis said removing the requirement the Legislative Inspector General get permission to investigate certain allegations against lawmakers won’t be included in the package of ethics reforms.

“We’ve already cleared it for anything with sexual harassment, they do not need to [get permission], but other issues we understand the life of a legislator better than somebody else does,” Willis said.

State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, said she’s pleased complainants’ rights will be addressed in the package, but said that the Legislative Inspector General should be made fully independent.

“I think that an inspector general, it’s their job to know the lives of legislators, and so if they’re going to investigate it they probably have enough of an idea whether or not something should be investigated,” Stava-Murray said.