Illinois Ethics Law Trashed!
December 2000
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>In 1998 the Illinois Legislature passed and then Governor Edgar signed into
law the State Gift Ban Act. The law banned the giving and receiving of gifts
to and by officials and employees of all government entities in Illinois.
There were, of course, exceptions. The law also contained significant
requirements for disclosure of who is giving how much to whom in political
campaigns. Moreover, the law required all local governments to pass gift ban
ordinances consistent with state law. Finally, the law called for seven, yes,
seven, separate statewide ethics commissions. Sound complicated? You bet.
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>So complicated in fact that in September 2000 will County Circuit Judge
Thomas Ewert threw out the law ruling that it was so vague and filled with so
many exemptions that it was unenforceable.
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>What's next? Attorney General Jim Ryan can appeal Judge Ewert's ruling to
the Illinois Supreme Court or the Illinois Legislature can rewrite the law in
2001. In either case, Illinois is currently lawless to prevent abuses in gift
giving and receiving by public officials. Is it time to pass the buck? Or is it
time to find someplace where the buck stops?