SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — With nearly 300 laws taking effect on New Year's Day, Illinois lawmakers have resolved to hold themselves to a higher ethical standard, stay the government's regulatory arm on young entrepreneurs and review ways to revive the struggling local journalism industry.
After the traditional spring legislative session stretched into the late summer, the Democratic-controlled Legislature produced 286 pieces of legislation approved by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
A dominant measure was a plan to tackle ethics after bribery scandals involving both House and Senate members, a senator's admission of tax-evasion and the ongoing investigation after utility ComEd's admission that it engaged in a long-running bribery scheme. That implicated and led to the ouster of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan even though he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.
Like many efforts before it, the measure has been criticized. It requires additional financial disclosures from legislators and implements the first-ever “cooling off” period before ex-legislators can begin lobbying their former colleagues, but with wide latitude.
It allows the legislative inspector general to open an investigation without the blessing of a bipartisan panel of legislators but withholds subpoena power. Inspector General Carol Pope resigned in protest in July, complaining like her two predecessors that the post has no investigative teeth. And there's no umbrella prohibition on legislators...
IBM reached a settlement with the federal government on Friday, agreeing to pay roughly $17 million to resolve allegations of illegal diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Acting Attorney Gen...