Niemerg Details Support for Ethics Legislation

Adam Niemerg, candidate for State Representative in the 109th District, says in light of the recent scandal surrounding House Speaker Michael Madigan, the Legislature should adopt meaningful ethics reforms to root out corruption in Springfield.

“There are a number of good reform ideas already on the table, but sadly the very people who are making these reforms so necessary are the very ones preventing these ideas from ever being considered,” Niemerg said. “I have and will continue to push for the meaningful ethics reforms we need once elected to office.”

One reform Niemerg is pushing is legislation (HB 4809) banning legislators for 3 years after they have left office. Niemerg said 33 states already have so-called revolving door laws requiring legislators to have a waiting period before being able to register as a lobbyist.

“We have laws in Illinois requiring staffers to have a waiting period before being able to legally lobby the Legislature,” Niemerg said. “Why are legislators exempt from these same rules? This legislation is a common-sense reform that would have support from both Democrats and Republicans if lawmakers were ever given a chance to vote for it.”

Other legislative ideas Niemerg supports include:

• HB4810: Creates an independent and aggressive Legislative Inspector General’s Office.
• HB4811: Modifies law so that no member of the General Assembly may engage in lobbying in the General Assembly or unit of local government.  Defines lobbyist and bans them from the general assembly.
• HB4812: Forces legislators to choose between public service and personal profit by strengthening the conflict of interest laws and demanding recusals.
• HB5370: Creates one of the strongest, most detailed, and most transparent economic disclosure in the country.
• HB4808:Provides accountability for agencies that ignore FOIA requests. By creating a form of punishment ($7,500 out of their budgets) these agencies should be much more transparent and accountable to the people they represent.

“What we don’t need are a bunch of speeches and symbolic ethics legislation,” Niemerg said. “We need real reforms that will finally put an end to the culture of corruption in Illinois government once and for all.”

For more information log onto www.niemergforstaterep.com.