Croke Works for Ethics Reform, Government Transparency

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – New ethics standards and government transparency requirements that have long been needed in Illinois will be made law under legislation State Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, helped pass.

“Public trust in elected officials is critical and I’m absolutely committed to building that trust,” Croke said. “Our community deserves to be represented by officials who will act with the interests of the people in mind, not backdoor dollars from lobbyists or promises of future financial opportunities. Bringing more transparency into our lawmaking system and setting regulations on the process will ensure that kind of behavior doesn’t happen.”

Croke put her support behind Senate Bill 539, ethics reform legislation designed to put an end to public officials enriching themselves on the job. The legislation prohibits elected officials from lobbying on behalf of those who have lobbied them, creates buffer periods between retirement from influential public positions and accepting lobbying jobs, and many technical changes to lobbying behavior for the purposes of transparency.

“This legislation is just one of many steps I plan to take to make sure our government works within the lines and solely for the people of Illinois,” Croke said. “Our communities have spoken loud and clear: they don’t want bought-and-paid-for politicians working in Springfield anymore. I don’t intend to ignore their voices ever.”