* Center Square…
State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, told WMAY he would like to see a special session of the legislature to deal with ethics reforms.
“The time has come to do them,” Manar said. “These [various ethics reforms proposals] have been around for a very, very long time and I think most of them would receive broad bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle.”
But Manar said Madigan should only step down if he’s indicted, something he said: “could be coming at any time.”
Pritzker Thursday said the Speaker needs to speak up.
“I think the Speaker has an enormous amount to answer for,” Pritzker said. “There are questions that the public needs to hear the answer to. I do too. So that’s what I would start with here, questions, about, you know, what happened here?”
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 4:55 pm:
===So that’s what I would start with here, questions, about, you know, what happened here?===
Unlikely. What can Madigan say? He’d risk throwing McClain or Pramaggiore under the bus if he said anything more than “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
- Derek Smalls - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:08 pm:
Hopefully any ethics reform put forward by Sen. Manar will be squarely focused on the Legislature versus the usual Springfield two step of reforms for the Executive Branch and lobbyists and the absolute bare minimum for the Legislature.
To JB, what is the consequence if he doesn’t speak up, another “if true” finger waggling? Look to the women, they are showing how it is done.
- AD - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:14 pm:
Agree with JB, that the Speaker needs to Speak up. Have interviews with Mary Ann Ahern and Mark Maxwell and make sure that he gives answers that actually answer the questions being asked. No dancing around with answers that the wording is factually correct, but the intention is not.
- Frumpy white guy - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:17 pm:
Caps on what a lobbyist can earn and limits on what the can do for fundraising and campaign help.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:17 pm:
GOP has been calling for this weeks
https://wsiltv.com/2020/07/22/il-house-republicans-demand-ethics-special-session-senate-gop-call-for-madigan-to-step-down/
- Derek Smalls - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 5:21 pm:
AD - what should JB do if Madigan doesn’t “speak up”? As Madigan is clearly the target of a federal investigation , the likelihood of him answering detailed questions about ComEd matters is … unlikely.
- DownstateR - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 6:04 pm:
Do people have to drag this relic off his pedestal and into the muck he deservers… Should have gone gracefully and in victory after Rauner’s defeat. Other commenters have mentioned hubris; meet nemesis MJM.
- AD - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 6:15 pm:
Derek - Not sure, but if there’s a golden opportunity for JB to consolidate and become the clear leader of the Illinois Democratic party, now is a great chance.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 6:42 pm:
JB better get on the right side of this if he wants to get that presidential nomination down the road
- Derek Smalls - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 6:56 pm:
AD - The Golden opportunity has passed him by, he is now looking at Silver or Bronze if he can follow the lead of Democratic women, the ladies have locked up the Gold. At the rate the Democratic men are moving I think it is a struggle for Bronze.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 30, 20 @ 9:06 pm:
How about a real special session, like criminal justice/police reform?
- Chatham Resident - Friday, Jul 31, 20 @ 8:39 am:
If there is an ethics-related special session, will the enhanced ethics reforms cover only legislators, or will state employees and vendors also see even tougher ethics restrictions too? (e.g., ethics training twice a year, perhaps total ban on secondary employment, etc.).
- en absentia - Friday, Jul 31, 20 @ 8:51 am:
I won’t be surprised if calls for a state constitutional convention begin to emerge. IL has gone so progressive that a complete overhaul seems inevitable.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 31, 20 @ 8:56 am:
=== I won’t be surprised if calls for a state constitutional convention begin to emerge.===
It failed the last time it was in the ballot.
Call all they want, but…