Villa Passes Legislative Package for Ethics Reform in Government

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To increase transparency and accountability among government officials, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, recently passed a package of legislative reforms to improve and strengthen ethics rules and crack down on lobbying practices.

“It is time to put an end to our state’s infamous reputation of corruption. The residents of Illinois deserve a state government that they can trust to make decisions on the important issues facing our state,” said Villa. “It is time to shine a light on shady lobbying practices and put an end to public corruption.”

Villa is sponsoring a package of legislative proposals to reform state government ethics and lobbying practices. Villa’s Senate Bill 1639 includes a series of reforms to strengthen state ethics laws including increased transparency of outside income, assets, significant debts, gifts and relationships to lobbyists. This measure will also require lobbyists to disclose each unit of government they are registered to lobby and all elected or appointed positions they hold.

Villa’s House Joint Resolution 93 creates the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, a bipartisan, bicameral task force that will closely examine state ethics and lobbying laws and make concrete recommendations to reform current laws.

“These ethics reforms are commonsense, and will stop corrupt officials from using their positions to get rich,” said Villa. “These measures are an important first step in true reform, and are in line with my commitment to build a stronger Illinois by increasing transparency and accountability across government.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.