Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) understands the thinking behind a bill that would require all Illinois lawmakers to wear body cameras, but she still believes there are less drastic methods of fighting corruption in state government.

“I think it’s a well-intended bill, but there are other ways to address all our problems in Springfield,” Rezin told the Will County Gazette. “We have other suggestions and the ethics commission I’m working on has put a task force together to look at corruption in Springfield. For starters, I believe there needs to be more in the financial disclosure forms state representatives and senators are required to fill out so that we can make sure there are no conflicts. I believe we can strengthen those requirements and make them more transparent.”

HB 4605 is the brainchild of state Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), who originally proposed the measure as HB 3447 in 2019. The veteran lawmaker touts it as his answer to all the rising corruption in Springfield, which over the last several months has seen at least two longtime legislators forced to step down amid allegations of bribery and kickbacks. Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who served in the 3rd District from 2006 to 2019, has been formally charged with bribery as part of a scheme where he allegedly attempted to pay off a sitting state senator in exchange for a favorable vote on a gambling measure.

Illinois state Rep. John M. Cabello (R-Machesney Park) | johncabello.org

Under the guidelines of Cabello’s bill, lawmakers found in violation would be subject to fines. Rezin believes the bill might be a last resort that can be avoided.

“We should as a state start putting a cap on what state legislators can make from outside jobs so there isn’t more influence from the income they could make,” she said. “That’s the way the federal government does things. I believe these are proposals the task force could certainly move to put forward.”