Dupage Policy Journal

Republican state House candidate Laura Hois is taking talk of a Democrat-backed ethics reform plan with a grain of salt.

“This is all talk and no action,” Hois told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Democrat members of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform who appear to be outraged about corruption are not being honest; they won't even mention (House Speaker Mike) Madigan by name. Republican members called for Madigan to resign and a Special Session to take action on proposed reforms and on removing Michael Madigan as Speaker and they were ignored.”

With Madigan now at the center of a widening federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, a group of democratic lawmakers are now pushing a package of nine reform measures they insist will quickly lead to the kind of culture change in Springfield most agree is critically needed. Topping the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

Running against incumbent state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) in the 81st District, Hois doesn’t think any of it is enough to make the change that’s needed in Springfield as long as Madigan remains at the helm.

“Madigan must go,” she said. “The people I talk to in my district are demanding his resignation. They know we can't make progress when Madigan is in control. We need a special session to deal with ethics and lobbying reform. I am running to put an end to corruption. Our families can't wait for another election cycle and have a statehouse that will continue to be controlled by Mike Madigan."

Hois said she isn’t surprised that Gov. J.B. Pritzker hasn’t been more vocal in calling for Madigan to go.

“Gov. Pritzker himself is in the hot seat for avoiding payment of taxes,” she said. “The leadership in Springfield needs to change.”