Proposal would overhaul Illinois ethics oversight with independent
commission
[September 16, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – A proposal to overhaul Illinois’ ethics oversight
system would consolidate existing inspector general and ethics functions
into a single independent commission with expanded investigative powers,
including the authority to subpoena documents and compel testimony.
The proposal comes as Illinois prepares for a new legislative inspector
general following Michael McCuskey’s planned departure. McCuskey’s
resignation, effective Sept. 30, has renewed scrutiny of the position
and the state’s broader ethics oversight system.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett, who developed the
proposal, said the vacancy presents an opportunity to address what he
describes as structural problems with the state’s ethics system rather
than simply replacing one official.
“It’s not enough just to replace the LIG,” Corbett said. “We need to
completely overhaul our broken ethics system in the state.”
Illinois currently has a legislative inspector general, a legislative
ethics commission and separate executive inspectors general.
The proposed system would create a nine-member independent ethics
commission to oversee ethics investigations and inspectors general.
Corbett said the key change would be shifting oversight away from
politicians and giving investigators greater independence.
“The problem is the structure of, whether it’s the LIG or any of these
other ethics officers, it’s the structure in Illinois that frankly gives
them almost no control and no ability to investigate lawmakers even when
they suspect them of wrongdoing,” he said.
The commission and its investigators would have full statutory subpoena
power, allowing them to compel documents and testimony from state
officials, including the governor, legislators, constitutional officers
and their staffs.
The commission also would be able to pursue penalties, recommend removal
from office and refer potential criminal matters to prosecutors.
Corbett said the system should focus not only on ethical misconduct but
also on government waste, fraud and abuse.
“These are very important positions,” he said. “And even if people
aren’t as concerned about ethics like they should be, I know we’re all
concerned about how our tax dollars are spent by government.”
The proposal would not completely remove elected officials from the
appointment process. Instead, Corbett said nominees would be vetted by
the Illinois Supreme Court and state judges before lawmakers make the
final selections.
“The only way that this would pass constitutional muster and be allowed
by the courts is if the lawmakers still ultimately make the choices,”
Corbett said.
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The Illinois State Capitol is shown in Springfield. Photo: Greg
Bishop / The Center Square
Under the proposed structure, lawmakers would retain the authority to
select commission members, but those nominees would first undergo
judicial vetting.
Once appointed, commissioners would answer to the independent commission
rather than political leaders and would operate with an independent
budget.
The commission itself would select inspectors general, who would report
to the commission rather than to lawmakers or other elected officials.
Corbett said the judicial role would provide an additional layer of
screening while allowing the appointment structure to remain within
existing constitutional constraints.
He said the change could be accomplished through legislation and would
not require a constitutional amendment.
Corbett said investigations should generally remain private while they
are ongoing, but final investigative reports should be made public.
“I believe the hearings should, in my opinion, be conducted initially in
closed-door session, but the reports of their investigations absolutely
should be made public,” he said.
He said keeping active investigations confidential could protect
witnesses and prevent investigations from being compromised.
Under the proposal, lawmakers who appoint commission members would have
authority to remove those commissioners for misconduct. The independent
commission would have authority over the removal and replacement of
inspectors general.
Corbett said he does not expect the proposed consolidation to
significantly increase costs because many of the functions already exist
within state government.
“You already have inspectors general, you already have ethics
commissions,” he said. “What we’re proposing is to consolidate them all
into one and to make them independent and give them full independent
authority.”
He said lawmakers could enact the changes during the upcoming veto
session rather than waiting for a new administration.
“It doesn’t even require me to be in office,” Corbett said. “J.B.
Pritzker could take this. The legislature could take this, and they
should.”
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