State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) | senatorbryant.com
State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) | senatorbryant.com
State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is one of a dozen Republican lawmakers in Springfield who want to make some serious changes when it comes to ethics reform to restore the voters' trust.
Bryant, who served on the Senate Ethics Committee, along with other members of the Senate Republican Caucus have co-sponsored legislation she believes would do just that.
"I take ethics and public corruption very seriously," Bryant said during a Jan. 27 press conference. "I also agree that something must be done to ensure that we have a corruption-free and ethical state government. A government that our citizens can trust."
Bryant said the ethics reform package, Senate Bill 3636, includes "commonsense ethics reform ideas" various groups have been pushing for years.
"Our legislation addresses the shortcomings within our state's lobbying restrictions and safeguards. Shortcomings that have plagued Illinois for far too long," Bryant said.
Under the bill, members of the General Assembly and their immediate family would be unable to work as a lobbyist while serving in the state legislature, ban a current member from negotiating with a lobbyist firm for future employment during their term, and forbid any former lawmaker from working as a lobbyist for a full year after leaving their elected position.
"Under current law it is too easy for legislators to spend their time in Springfield advocating on behalf of special interests instead of their constituents and then be rewarded with cushy lobbying jobs by special interests after they leave office," Bryant said.
Twelve Republicans have signed on to sponsor the legislation which was filed on Jan. 19, according to the General Assembly's website.
If approved by both chambers and subsequently signed into law, it would take effect right away.
It hasn't made its way to the Senate floor just yet; it currently sits within the Senate Assignments Committee.
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