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Rauner introduces penalty enhancement bill for politicians

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Illinois

* Press release…

On the heels of the failure of the General Assembly to advance two major initiatives to help end the culture of corruption in Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner and Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) today proposed giving Illinois the toughest public corruption penalties in the country to hold public officials accountable.

“State government needs to earn back the trust of the people,” Rauner said. “This legislation sends a strong message to politicians and public employees who think they are above the law that Illinois is fighting back.”

House Bill 5878, sponsored and introduced by Rep. Wehrli, increases or imposes firm penalties for more than 20 offenses to hold politicians and government accountable.

“Public corruption has eroded Illinois’ economy and morale for far too long,” Wehrli said. “Our citizens deserve honesty and integrity in their leaders and public employees. These penalty increases will impose more serious consequences for those looking to take advantage of our taxpayers and encourage good government for generations to come.”

* Not sure why the governor did this on a Friday afternoon with a brand new bill introduced two weeks after the House’s 3rd Reading deadline, but here are the deets…

Bribery

Increases maximum penalty from a $25,000 fine to a $1 million fine

Receiving contributions on state property

Doubles maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000

Engaging in prohibited political activities

Increases maximum fine from $2,500 to $10,000

Improperly serving on state boards and commissions

Increases maximum fine from $5,000 to $35,000

Legislators abusing their power for financial gain by:

Accepting honorarium
Upgraded from an ethics violation to a Class A Misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $5,100, plus surrender of honorarium to the state

Lobbying for compensation or unlawful participation in representation cases
Increases maximum fine from $2,500 to $200,000

Accepting other compensation for official duties
Upgrades classification from Petty Offense to Class A Misdemeanor and increases maximum fine from $1,000 to $200,000

Engaging in corrupt activities that violate the Legislator Code of Conduct
Sets minimum penalties for specific violations ranging from $1,000 to $35,000

* More…

Penalties will also increase for any legislator, public official or public employee fraudulently obtaining public moneys reserved for disadvantaged business enterprises and willfully filing false or incomplete financial disclosure statements.

Finally, the proposed legislation implements a $50 fine for any legislator, public official or public employee who knowingly fails to comply with ethics or sexual harassment prevention training.

“I’m not giving up and neither should the people of Illinois,” Rauner said. “We will continue to propose real reforms that stop politicians and political hires from using the powers of the Illinois government for illegitimate private gain.”

If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that penalty enhancement bills mainly exist to let politicians gloat that they’re being tough on crime.

* But, hey, as I’ve been saying all along, Gov. Rauner’s campaign is gonna be all about taxes, Madigan and corruption. So we can likely expect lots of noise about Madigan increasing the “corruption tax” by not allowing the most fabulous “anti-corruption” bill ever (!) out of Rules Committee.

Such is life.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 11, 18 @ 1:49 pm

Comments

Seriously?…When nothing else to do, introduce an enhancement bill that will never get passed and is long after procedure allows. That’s sure the way to Shake up Springfield!

Comment by d.p.gumby Friday, May 11, 18 @ 1:55 pm
Classic press release (or in this case campaign ad) bill.

This highlights the only thing Rauner is good at - meaningless rhetoric.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 11, 18 @ 1:58 pm
What about offering money to campaigns of legislators who vote a certain way? What about giving money to campaigns of legislators to be out of town in order to miss a critical override vote? What about governors who conduct private business transactions on the back porch of the governor’s mansion?

Comment by DuPage Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:07 pm
===Not sure why the governor did this on a Friday afternoon with a brand new bill introduced two weeks after the House’s 3rd Reading deadline, ===

Because the Best Team in the Dorm Room just thought of it?

Because he’s about to cave on the revenue estimate?

Because he’s reached a deal on a supplemental?

Because the plan to renovate the Quincy Veterans’ Home is passed and funded?

I mean, it’s not like he’d want to go out of his way to antagonize the General Assembly when he needs so much cooperation from them over the next two weeks.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:10 pm
Okay, but where’s the Governor’s balanced budget?

Comment by Claud Peppers Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:16 pm
Why after a deadline? …so he can say he proposed a bill that went nowhere because of corruption, or Madigan, or whatever.

Comment by Ga. Dawg Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:22 pm
–* Not sure why the governor did this on a Friday afternoon with a brand new bill introduced two weeks after the House’s 3rd Reading deadline,–

LOL, so no one will ask him why he’s trotting out a bill two week’s after the deadline?

It’s either phony reform politics or incompetence, take your pick.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:22 pm
It’s nice to see the governor finally following through on his former chief legal counsel’s concerns about the division between politics and government in the Rauner administration. Heading into an election, this should set a clear tone for his employees on what they can and cannot do and reinforce it with some penalties.
Good for the governor for stepping up and not being afraid to confront what some had suggested was a problem in his administration.
Hope this goes far enough.
For instance, someone might want to consider adding a back porch clause.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:22 pm
Rauner’s message will be all about taxes, Madigan and corruption

Why is this a mistake?

Our property taxes lead the nation and is causing people and businesses to leave Illinois.

Mike Madigan is the most unpopular politician in the state and most people (including Democrats) believe he is the person in Springfield most responsible for Illinois financial condition and the impasse for the past three years.

Illinois leads the nation if distrust of state government, ie corruption

I would add reforming government and our business environment to foster economic growth

What should he be running on?

What are the Democrats running on? A return to total control of state government that over 12 years decimated Illinois finances.

A progressive income tax that has bipartisan opposition in the House, that will magically solve Illinois financial problems, and new progressive programs the state cannot afford?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:33 pm
===Why is this a mistake?===

Why, other than your inordinately thin skin, are you assuming I meant it that way? Stop being such a victim.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:36 pm
“We will continue to propose real reforms that stop politicians and political hires from using the powers of the Illinois government for illegitimate private gain.” *And it is this core principle, which has driven me to be so aggressively critical of the Trump administration, and is culture of cronyism and graft. We must pursue a government in which every citizen is equal- without expectation of favor.*

-And then I woke up-

Comment by West Sider Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:36 pm
–What should he be running on?–

Competence and fiscal responsibility are out.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:37 pm
LP - Do you also think that the federal government should not have a progessive income tax system as well and go to a flat tax for all citizens?

Comment by Illinois Resident Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:45 pm
Will he also be introducing a bill that will block the US Attorney’s office from taking public corruption cases from the AG and county SAs?

Comment by Anonish Friday, May 11, 18 @ 2:49 pm
I thought Gov. Gaslight didn’t go in for political theatre.

Oh wait…

Comment by Nick Name Friday, May 11, 18 @ 3:01 pm
I didn’t see building warehouses for politically connected families to store files that were already being stored, or for spending $100 million dollars on an ERP IT project that by all accounts is a massive failure, or for ignoring the health of our veterans, and most importantly accepting our highest office and declaring that he is not in charge.

Comment by Captain Ed Smith Friday, May 11, 18 @ 3:04 pm
=Rauner’s message will be all about taxes, Madigan and corruption

Why is this a mistake?=

Well because usually an incumbent talks about their accomplishments while in office and why they deserve another four years. But I get your point.

Comment by Pundent Friday, May 11, 18 @ 3:51 pm