Mason Takes a Stand Against Corruption, Supports Ethics Reform Legislation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to growing concerns regarding legislator and lobbyist ethics, state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, supported legislation to combat public corruption and increase state government transparency.

“I came to Springfield because I believe we need officials who will do what is best for their communities and our state, not what is best for themselves,” said Mason. “It sickens me every time another news story breaks about a corrupt politician or someone abusing the public trust for their own personal gain. The legislation we passed last week will not solve all of these problems, but it represents a solid step forward as we work towards additional meaningful, concrete ways to clean up state government and foster an environment that works for the people of Illinois, not the politicians.”

Mason sponsored Senate Bill 1639 to strengthen state transparency laws by requiring lobbyists to disclose additional information about the clients they represent, including the representation of units of local government. The measure also makes it easier for citizens to access information regarding lobbying activities and campaign donations by creating a one stop shop searchable database.

To further provide recommendations on ethics reforms for state officials and lobbyists, Mason also sponsored House Joint Resolution 93 to create the bipartisan Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. The commission will provide legislative recommendations on ethics and accountability reforms for state officials and lobbyists that the legislature can consider in the upcoming spring session.

“It’s clear that more needs to be done to reform the state’s ethics laws, and this bipartisan, bicameral commission is going to spend the next several months taking a serious look into what can be done. I’m eager to see their recommendations and work on legislation that will help to restore the public’s trust in our government,” Mason added. “We have to hold each other accountable. So much more has to be done to tackle this issue, but I am prepared to work with Democrats and Republicans to tackle this issue head-on, and send a message that illegal, unethical behavior will not be tolerated in our Capitol.”