Despite these many corruption cases, Illinois Democrats who control the state legislature still refuse to pass the meaningful ethics reform necessary to stop the graft in Illinois politics and restore trust in government to the people of Illinois.
State Representative Ryan Spain, who has filed several ethics reform measures to change state law and was one of the three members of the Illinois House five years ago to initiate a Special Investigating Committee (2020) aimed at removing Michael Madigan as Speaker for corruption, reiterated how badly reform is needed on the state level.
“Sadly, the corrupt Madigan Way has survived and strengthened in Illinois government, despite all the recent federal convictions,” said Spain. “The federal government should not have to keep cleaning up our mess. The people are fed up and frustrated with the way business is done in Illinois. It’s time for the Governor and Illinois Democrats who control state government to hear the message from the people and clean up our state.”
This year alone, House Republicans have served up bills to empower the Legislative Inspector General (Spain – HB 1382), improve lobbying regulation (Spain – HB 1384, HB 1385, Windhorst – HB 2413), enforce conflict of interest rules (Wilhour - HB 3121) and prevent campaign funds from being used for criminal defense (McCombie – HB 1554). Unfortunately, since Madigan was removed as Speaker, Democrats have allowed only one ethics-related bill to pass. However, the new law (Public Act 102-664) was so watered down and filled with loopholes that the Legislative Inspector General ultimately resigned in protest. This bill actually made it harder to investigate corruption. It is not reform when you tie the hands of the person tasked with investigating legislative corruption.
State Representative Patrick Windhorst serves as the House Minority Spokesman on the House’s Ethics & Elections Committee. Like Spain, Windhorst has been a longtime advocate for anti-corruption reforms.
“The time to start cleaning up Illinois government was many years ago, and it is time for Illinois Democrats to get serious about it,” said Windhorst. “When the people doubt the conduct of their elected officials to such a degree that they assume corruption is the norm, it shakes the foundation of our democratic system. We must show the people of Illinois that their government is serious about restoring the trust that has been lost.”
The Illinois House of Representatives is set to reconvene on January 20, 2026, and House Republicans will continue demanding that ethics reform legislation be taken up to restore trust in Illinois government.
“Sadly, the corrupt Madigan Way has survived and strengthened in Illinois government, despite all the recent federal convictions,” said Spain. “The federal government should not have to keep cleaning up our mess. The people are fed up and frustrated with the way business is done in Illinois. It’s time for the Governor and Illinois Democrats who control state government to hear the message from the people and clean up our state.”
This year alone, House Republicans have served up bills to empower the Legislative Inspector General (Spain – HB 1382), improve lobbying regulation (Spain – HB 1384, HB 1385, Windhorst – HB 2413), enforce conflict of interest rules (Wilhour - HB 3121) and prevent campaign funds from being used for criminal defense (McCombie – HB 1554). Unfortunately, since Madigan was removed as Speaker, Democrats have allowed only one ethics-related bill to pass. However, the new law (Public Act 102-664) was so watered down and filled with loopholes that the Legislative Inspector General ultimately resigned in protest. This bill actually made it harder to investigate corruption. It is not reform when you tie the hands of the person tasked with investigating legislative corruption.
State Representative Patrick Windhorst serves as the House Minority Spokesman on the House’s Ethics & Elections Committee. Like Spain, Windhorst has been a longtime advocate for anti-corruption reforms.
“The time to start cleaning up Illinois government was many years ago, and it is time for Illinois Democrats to get serious about it,” said Windhorst. “When the people doubt the conduct of their elected officials to such a degree that they assume corruption is the norm, it shakes the foundation of our democratic system. We must show the people of Illinois that their government is serious about restoring the trust that has been lost.”
The Illinois House of Representatives is set to reconvene on January 20, 2026, and House Republicans will continue demanding that ethics reform legislation be taken up to restore trust in Illinois government.