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Lawmakers Target End of May to Pass Ethics Reform Legislation to Clean Up Illinois Government
All the ethics reform proposals, or would some be enough? That's been a big question for lawmakers at the Capitol.

The governor's Ethics Reform Commission chairman, Patrick Collins, met Thursday afternoon with Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) on how to advance ideas to clean up state government.

Cullerton is optimistic, saying "maybe we can get an agreement on everything." While Collins started a media availability with Cullerton saying he's willing to compromise, he ended that same availability by stating that there are some core principals on which he could not compromise. At least one point of contention - redistricting - could be postponed. Cullerton says since it would take a constitutional amendment to change the redistricting process, that decision could wait until May of next year.

A joint committee of House and Senate members are going to negotiate a final ethics bill with Collins' group, and Cullerton insists that lawmakers will take a vote by the end of the spring session.

Reporters asked Cullerton what he thought of a proposal by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to fire around 3,000 appointees of former governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, Cullerton said only that he hadn't read the bill yet. His spokeswoman then told reporters to leave Cullerton's office. She later said in an e-mail that "While he has not had time to review the specifics of the legislation he supports the concept."

(Illinois Radio Network)
05 07 09 by Newsroom
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