Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x1 *** Durkin urges Greg Harris to restart ethics process
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
*** UPDATED x1 *** Durkin urges Greg Harris to restart ethics process

Tuesday, Dec 1, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Letter to the House Majority Leader from the House Republican Leader…

Majority Leader Greg Harris,

It has become abundantly clear that the House Democratic Caucus and their campaign arm use the concept of “cleaning up Springfield and fighting corruption” as the highlight of their agenda. Actions speak louder than words. There has been decidedly no action taken to match the words of Democratic members even though your caucus controls the legislative docket.

In your role as not only Majority Leader of the House Democratic Caucus, but also Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics Reform and the designated leader for the Special Investigating Committee II, I implore you to utilize your power in moving critical ethics reforms forward for the state of Illinois.

Again and again, we see endless delays instead of action: canceled hearings, using the pandemic as an excuse to not schedule hearings, hiding behind another task force instead of taking action. We have seen those tricks and tactics used by Speaker Madigan for decades to delay taking action on an issue when the status quo is beneficial to himself. Don’t follow that flawed model, Leader Harris.

The Special Investigating Committee II, charged with investigating Speaker Madigan’s bribery scheme with ComEd, was created in August and has only met twice. This is totally unacceptable and a disgrace to the residents of Illinois who deserve transparency.

The Joint Committee on Ethics having not met since March has left all of us wondering if there is any sincerity in the House Democratic caucus on addressing reforms. Did we forget the arrest of Rep. Arroyo and how it caused such a shockwave and hand-wringing through the Chamber?

I urge you in your role as a leader to use your considerable ability restart the process. Avoiding the issue is unacceptable. I hope the House Democrats will join their Republican colleagues in a quest for transparency and meaningful results. Let’s get this done.

Sincerely,

James Durkin
Illinois House Republican Leader

I’ve reached out to Leader Harris for comment.

*** UPDATE *** Leader Harris…

I thank Leader Durkin for his letter. It arrived while I was listening to Dr Ezike outline how many thousands more Illinoisans tested positive for COVID yesterday, and how many more thousands are hospitalized or in the ICU, and tragically how many more have died.

Also, listening to her warnings about the coming surge which could overwhelm our hospitals, and how we can all help reduce transmission. As I have said before I look forward to completing the work of the Commission when it is safe to gather in large groups again, and look forward to presenting legislation based on the Commission’s work.

       

21 Comments
  1. - walker - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 2:52 pm:

    Durkin knows that Harris is already working on this. This letter is so Durkin can claim some of the credit.


  2. - Jibba - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:00 pm:

    ===using the pandemic as an excuse to not schedule hearings===

    As far as excuses go, this is a pretty good one.


  3. - Hot chocolate - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:01 pm:

    How can anyone say Harris is “workin’ on it”’? The only ethics bill to clear the 101st GA was the creation of the ethics commission…that missed its report deadline and hasn’t had a meeting since March? Yeah, he’s workin on it.


  4. - Frank talks - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:05 pm:

    I thought the 19 members not voting for Madigan was the ethics legislation? Isn’t this the outcome Durkin wants?


  5. - people caring loudly - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:05 pm:

    Well Durkin has such great ideas, like HB5789
    Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that no member of the General Assembly shall file or sponsor any legislation, where the member’s purpose in filing or sponsoring that legislation is to, whether directly or indirectly, intentionally: cause individuals or businesses to spend money and devote resources to prevent its passage; assist a registered lobbyist or any other person to obtain a financial or other personal advantage in violation of the provisions of this Act; or gain a financial or other personal advantage for himself or herself in violation of the provisions of this Act. Provides that a violation of this provision is a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.


  6. - Really - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:06 pm:

    Quite honestly, that letter is nothing more than a waste of paper and ink. Ethics and Illinois Democrats don’t belong in the same dictionary and for the GA to take action is almost as likely for something useful to come out of any task force the GA authorizes.


  7. - Pandemic times - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:07 pm:

    I am more surprised how little hgop and durkin have addresed pandemic relief. It seems he flipped the script… the pandemic is not the excuse here, his job description turned into fire madigan.


  8. - Veil of Ignorance - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:12 pm:

    If Durkin really wants to shake things up, then he’ll offer his members to vote for a new Dem House Speaker if a viable candidate steps forward; he might even be able to negotiate more favorable rules , etc. which could be something more tangible than what he’s doing right now. Longshot I know.


  9. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:13 pm:

    =Ethics and Illinois Democrats don’t belong in the same dictionary=

    George Ryan Agrees with you.

    Durkin has basically written this letter before. We get it. He wants us to know that he wants us to know.


  10. - essentially working - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:18 pm:

    By the time it is “safe” enough for Harris to meet in person, Madigan may be under indictment…


  11. - Really - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:26 pm:

    George Ryan was a Democrat, or at least a RINO. (Republican in name only)


  12. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:30 pm:

    === George Ryan was…===

    … a Republican.

    If you can’t grasp that…


  13. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:32 pm:

    Greg could have added how unfortunate it is that Durkin and his caucus decided to prohibit remote legislating and therefore can’t convene as a committee.


  14. - Sue - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 3:36 pm:

    JS- sir I knew George Ryan, George Ryan was a friend of mine - Sir- you are no George Ryan. All kidding aside, I acknowledge that they blame Ryan for the Willis tragedy but the accusations set out in the Com Ed materials in terms of corruption dwarf anything Ryan might have done


  15. - Nagidam - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 4:16 pm:

    Good response by Leader Harris but it does highlight that it has been March since they met and January since the Governor called for serious ethics reform. I understand not meeting now in the middle of a surge in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. But what happened about meeting when hospitals were not in danger of being over run? Positivity rates were under 3%. Leader Harris cannot have it both ways. The reality is the Democrats do not want to talk ethics reform with their Speaker under a cloud and now they don’t have the …whatabout Trump retort.


  16. - Downstate Illinois - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 4:20 pm:

    Harris is stonewalling. Like the Know Nothings of the 19th Century the Do-Nothing Dems of today don’t dare challenge Madigan on his home turf. It’s far easier to lob tweets expressing their displeasure than actually do anything about it.


  17. - Nagidam - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 4:27 pm:

    ===George Ryan was a Democrat, or at least a RINO. (Republican in name only)===

    Actually Gov. Ryan was a mainstream Republican that wouldn’t fit into what has become mainstream Republican Party in todays world. Back in Ryan’s days someone from today that would call him a RINO would have been called a Right Winger. My have times changed.


  18. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 4:39 pm:

    Jim Edgar and James Thompson are also known quite famously for being Democrats.

    ===Com Ed materials in terms of corruption dwarf anything Ryan might have done ===

    If my memory serves me correctly, weren’t 79 people indicted as a consequence of that investigation with almost all of them pleading or being found guilty?


  19. - amalia - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 5:18 pm:

    democrats, you can do both.


  20. - Socially DIstant Watcher - Tuesday, Dec 1, 20 @ 6:27 pm:

    ==the accusations set out in the Com Ed materials in terms of corruption dwarf anything Ryan might have done ==

    Puh leez. “The stuff Ryan might have done” landed over 70 people in jail.


  21. - Odysseus - Wednesday, Dec 2, 20 @ 9:05 am:

    @people caring loudly
    Wow, there’s no possible way that language could be abused. What a terrible bill.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Veto session update
* A vile example of why wireless companies need to crack down hard on mass texting
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* Trump stuff
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Another update to today's edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today's edition
* Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
* Welch says he has secured the votes for another term as House Speaker
* Some views from Little Village
* Roundup: Madigan corruption trial
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller