State Representative Dave Severin called for new ethics reforms in Illinois after a federal appeals court upheld the public corruption conviction of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, according to an April 28 statement.
The issue is important because Severin said ongoing inaction on ethics laws damages public trust in state government. He said that while he was pleased with the court’s decision, more needs to be done by lawmakers.
“While I am pleased former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction on public corruption charges was upheld, it is terribly disappointing that Democrats have changed nothing to improve ethics in Illinois over the past four years,” Severin said. “Inaction erodes the already strained public trust in our state government.”
Severin also said House Republicans have introduced proposals focused on strengthening ethics laws and increasing transparency. “House Republicans have been out front with ideas on ethics reform,” Severin added. “Our thoughtful proposals have been met with utter silence by Illinois Democrats.”
Severin, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 116th House District, replacing previous state representative David Friess according to available information.
He pledged continued efforts toward accountability and said families deserve a trustworthy government. The website where this announcement appeared notes that campaign-related posts are prohibited by ethics regulations.
