SJ0001 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0001 LRB096 08291 RCE 18399 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois State government faces an integrity crisis that is as grave as the financial crisis that confronts our nation; and

WHEREAS, The integrity crisis was precipitated by former Governor Rod Blagojevich, who, in January 2009 by virtue of the authority vested in the General Assembly by the Illinois Constitution, was impeached by the House and removed from office by the Senate following his conviction in a Senate trial presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois; the seriousness and public alarm regarding Blagojevich's misdeeds and abuse of power were amplified further by the fact that he was preceded in office by Governor George Ryan, who was convicted and imprisoned for wrongdoing during his time as an elected official; and

WHEREAS, Governor Blagojevich, throughout his tenure as Governor, repeatedly stymied and obstructed bipartisan efforts to pass legislation strengthening the State's ethics laws and increasing government transparency; among the waylaid measures were those reforming the State pension systems and Procurement Code, strengthening revolving door prohibitions, and expanding government whistleblower protections; and

WHEREAS, The legitimacy of democratic government is dependent entirely upon the public's expectation that elected officials will remain mindful of the sacred trust that has been placed in them and act exclusively in the best interests of their fellow citizens, free from any considerations of use of their offices for personal advantage or gain; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that lawmakers move swiftly to put this dark period in our State's history behind us and take all necessary steps to ensure that it is never repeated; to do so will require legislators to immediately begin a review of current State statutes, take public testimony, and determine what additional measures should be enacted to reform Illinois government and ensure that citizens receive the honest services to which they are rightfully due from their public servants; and

WHEREAS, We commend Governor Patrick Quinn's decision to create the Illinois Reform Commission, the purpose of which is to undertake a focused evaluation of both existing Illinois law and the operational practices of the State of Illinois from the perspective of ethics in government, proposing, as the Commission deems appropriate, amendments to existing law; and

WHEREAS, Lawmakers stand ready to work with Governor Quinn, reform advocates, and the citizens of Illinois to restore integrity to State government; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Joint Committee on Government Reform; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint Committee shall consist of 16 members, 4 of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, 4 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House shall serve as co-chairs of the committee; the Minority Leader of the Senate and Minority Leader of the House, if they so choose, may serve as co-vice chairs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint Committee shall meet at the call of the Speaker and President; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to all Illinois Constitutional Officers, Illinois Supreme Court Justices, and members of Governor Patrick Quinn's Illinois Reform Commission.