Corruption, as defined by Transparency International, is “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Corruption can come about in many different ways such as embezzlement, fraud, or bribery which corrode democratic processes, hinder economic growth, and stir up widespread distrust toward leaders and powerful institutions.
The earliest instances of corruption date back to the origins of institutionalized power itself. Historical accounts from ancient civilizations show that societies have grappled with both public and private corruption for centuries and have implemented unique strategies in order to prevent abuse of power. For example, in ancient Egypt, tomb raiders commonly bribed guards to allow them entry into the burial sites of pharaohs and nobles to loot their treasures. To crack down on these crimes, curses were written on the walls of tombs to scare off any potential looters and Egyptian courts began subjecting those convicted of raiding or desecrating tombs to harsh methods of torture.
Over time, forms of corruption, and efforts to stop them, have only increased in their sophistication and impact. A category of crime once carried out largely by working class citizens has gradually became a caliber of offense perpetuated by some of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in the world, oftentimes serving as high-ranking government officials or prominent corporate elites. While tomb raiding is a thing of the past, ongoing corruption cases such as those involving former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain show how corruption is not confined to distant thieving regimes or ancient civilizations. Madigan, who served as Illinois Speaker of the House for 36 years, faces damning charges for racketeering and bribery during his time as the highest-ranking House Democrat along with his former caucus colleague and lobbyist, Michael McClain.
The lengthy trial has revealed shocking details of how the two defendants allegedly manipulated legislative processes and engaged in corrupt activities to benefit themselves and close associates. Instances of said activities include Madigan receiving $120,000 in no-work contracts from ComEd for his allies in exchange for his support on an energy bill that benefitted the electric utility giant. The two have also been accused of accepting bribes from AT&T Illinois, which allegedly funneled $22,500 in funds to former State Representative Edward Acevedo with the understanding that Madigan would support legislation ending AT&T’s obligation to provide landline service to all Illinoisans. To date, the former House Speaker has spent millions of dollars from his campaign fund to cover his legal fees using a loophole that House Republicans have worked tirelessly to patch.
“To me, each of these prosecutions highlights the need for additional ethics reform in our state,” said State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). “When you have a problem, you have to address that problem, and we have shown, unfortunately, through our track record as a state, that we do not have an ethical government, so we must take action to make our government as ethical as we can.”
Amid perpetual instances of high-level corruption in Illinois, Illinois House Republicans have led the charge in addressing cases such as these and pushing for much needed ethics reform. Throughout the 103rd General Assembly, the caucus brought forth several important pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing transparency, tightening the use of campaign funds, and implementing restrictions on lobbying. Notable ethics reforms bills proposed by House Republicans during the 103rd General Assembly include:
- House Bill 1277 – Benefit or annuity payments to a member or participant in a retirement system or pension fund shall be suspended if the member or participant is charged with a felony.
- House Bill 4119 – Prohibits elected officials from using political campaign donations to pay for criminal defense.
- House Bill 4286 – Provides for a three-year revolving door ban on lobbying.
- House Bill 4288 – Requires the Executive and Legislative Ethics Commissions to make reports available within 60 days of receipt.
- House Bill 4289 – Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act to expand the definition of “officials” to include more positions at the local level and expands the definition of “lobbying.”