Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) is criticizing General Assembly Democrats for forcing a vote on the new Legislative Inspector General on party lines.

“There is a serious public trust problem in this state, yet today, Democrats once again showed their true colors by sidestepping the state's citizen oversight search process to directly appoint the Legislative Inspector General,” he said in a statement.

McConchie’s comments come after Democrats voted to seat Michael P. McCuskey as the new LIG.

McConchie noted the process used by the Democrats bypassed the established process for selecting the position.

"By bypassing the process outlined in law that calls for a citizen search committee to review, vet, investigate, and interview candidates for Legislative Inspector General, the Majority puts at risk the public's perception of impartiality of this very important office that investigates impropriety by members of the legislature,” McConchie said.

McCuskey, 73, is a retired judge who has previously served as a state circuit and appellate judge, as well as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois.

The Peoria native retired as a federal judge in 2014 after having first been appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998.

“Bypassing the citizen oversight process set in state law is contrary to even Judge McCuskey's stated desires and interpretation of the law. This is not only uncalled for, but feeds into the mistrust that many Illinoisans rightfully have of their state government,” McConchie said.

The LIG job was created In 2003 to be given “broad authority to investigate alleged wrongdoing."

Former LIG Carol Pope resigned from the position last year, citing its ineffectiveness.

“This last legislative session demonstrated true ethics reform is not a priority,” Pope noted in her resignation letter. “The LIG has no real power to effect change or shine a light on ethics violations; the position is essentially a paper tiger.”

Pope resigned as the General Assembly enacted a law restricting the LIG's powers even more.

In her criticism Pope noted the LIG is prohibited from initiating an investigation without a written complaint under Public Act 102-0664.

At the time the law had not yet been signed. Gov. J.B. Pritzker made it effective in October 2021.