As your state representative, I am committed to restoring your faith in government in our great state. I am working with the members of the General Assembly and our new governor to make sure that we improve ethics laws and hold corrupt public officials accountable for their misuse of power.

We need to step up and renew our efforts at reform. That is why I support measures like House Bill 377, which will take away state retirement benefits for public officials impeached by the House and then convicted and removed from office by the Senate.

Now is the time for campaign finance reform. I am sponsoring House Bill 24, filed by Rep. Harry Osterman, to address how we finance campaigns, in terms of political action committees (PACs) and limitations on the amount of campaign contributions from individuals, corporations, labor organizations, etc. It also addresses regulation of political solicitations of employees.

I also believe that we need greater transparency in government. That is why I am in favor of increasing ethics regulations for public officials and state employees to ensure that all are conducting their jobs with the highest standards possible. I am sponsoring HB 553 which will make public the findings of the Inspector General.

I am also in the process of drafting enhanced pay-to- play legislation that I plan to introduce shortly. This legislation would limit contributions to the Governor by individuals appointed to commissions for a year before and after the appointment.

In addition, there are two government groups researching further reforms. The Joint Committee on Government Reform was established by the Illinois House and Senate. It is holding weekly public hearings in our capitol. Governor Quinn has established the Illinois Reform Commission (IRC) with the intent of tackling campaign finance reform. On February 18, the Commission held a town hall meeting at Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire. While I have sponsored individual ethics measures, I also look forward to backing further measures recommended by these government panels.

While it has been troubling for all of us to live through the unprecedented impeachment and removal from office of a sitting governor, many of us who serve with integrity and honesty have renewed zeal to push for further reforms. I am confident that as a result of these difficult times, we can craft further legislative reforms that strengthen government and the political process.

Illinois is a great state, one that I am proud to call home, and that is why I believe it is important that we work together to ensure that Illinois will not be remembered for the names of Ryan and Blagojevich, but rather for our venerable government leaders such as Lincoln, Simon and Obama.