Experts, lawmakers critical of Illinois ethics in the wake of Madigan
appeals
[April 11, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – In the wake of new legal proceedings in a
high-profile Illinois corruption case, attempts to reform ethics
requirements for state officials have weakend but not stopped.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, is appealing his
conviction that led to his seventh-and-a-half year sentence in federal
prison. Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts relating to bribery and
corruption as a public official last year.
In the time between the start of investigations into Madigan and today,
ethics reforms have been a hot-button issue, but many say reforms have
not been put in place.
Republicans previously said efforts to implement reforms through the
General Assembly in 2021 fell short of what is needed, and one expert
agrees.
Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, said the state
of ethics in Springfield is not up to par with other states. She said
despite lots of talk from Illinois leaders, they have not met the
moment.
“There needs to be a real change in the way leadership approaches these
types of ethics issues if we’re going to come close to measuring up to
the ethics standards in many other states,” Kaplan said.
House Republicans put forward multiple bills aiming to provide ethics
reform last year, but none have progressed. The same cannot be said for
the state senate, where Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, has sponsored a number
of similar bills that are still in play this year.
Tracy filed multiple bills that address issues related to lobbying,
bribery and partisan appointments and elections.
One bill on lobbying was put forward – but did not move – during a
previous General Assembly, with support from Secretary of State Alexi
Giannoulias, whose agency oversees lobbyist registration.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, followed by a
protester, enters the federal courthouse in Chicago, Dec. 10, 2024.
Jim Talamonti / The Center Square
Senate Bill 3371 would prevent lobbyists from promising or offering
anything of value to state officials or employees and candidates for
executive or legislative office in exchange for their support,
something common in other states.
Another bill from Tracy would prevent the revolving-door of
lawmakers becoming lobbyists after ending a term.
Kaplan said Madigan’s conviction was a rare moment of accountability
for the state, but she feels there is hope for more.
“Even though it's Illinois, we can get change here. There have been
plenty of other states that have dug themselves out of pits of
corruption and misconduct,” Kaplan said.
She added one way to see substantive change passed is through
pressure from constituents, suggesting Illinoisans in favor of
reform should contact the people who represent them, both at the
state and even local levels.
The Senate will return to Springfield next week.
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