Lake County Gazette

Republican state House candidate Chris Bos suspects Democrats may have ulterior motives for their sudden interest in bringing ethics reforms to Springfield.

“When you look at it, we’re only 70-some days from an election,” Bos told the Lake County Gazette. “I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering if this is really about ethics or just a ploy to score points with voters close to an election. I place absolutely no stock in any of it.”

With longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) now embroiled in a still developing federal corruption probe involving utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, some Democrat lawmakers are pushing an array of reform measures they tout as ways to change the culture in Springfield. Topping the list of proposals are measures that would ban legislators from becoming lobbyists, require greater financial disclosures, establish a censure process, make the legislative inspector general more independent, and institute term limits.

“It’s even more suspicious when you consider Republicans have proposed plans similar to this before and nothing happened,” said Bos, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) in the 51st District. "What’s so different now?”

In any event, Bos said he wonders how much can truly change in Springfield as long as Madigan is still at the helm.

“My opponent got really angry recently when talking about Madigan, saying that all of this is bigger than just him,” Bos added. “That’s all true, but until he is out of the way anything democrats have to stay about ethics reform is pointless. We know he controls everything that comes out of the House.”

Bos said he hasn’t been surprised to see so many Democrats remaining loyal to Madigan given the way he runs his operation.

“You got a handful of House members calling on him to step down but you got the majority of them taking a much less stern approach,” he said.