By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Only in Springfield?

Illinois Senate Republicans Thursday brought out some bills which could have given the legislature more of a hammer in policing itself – in the wake of indictments and investigations which have seen three lawmakers depart, a fourth also indicted, and the Speaker of the House an apparent focus of a bribery investigation in which Commonwealth Edison has paid $200 million in a “deferred prosecution agreement.”

“There have been exactly zero ethics bills signed into law during that time,” said State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon).

He and three Senate Republican colleagues appeared at a Zoom news conference to call for bills which would, among other things, allow the attorney general to empanel a statewide grand jury; prohibit lawmakers from lobbying other units of government; and, in a repeat, provide a one-year buffer between someone walking out of the legislature and walking back in as a lobbyist.

The group expressed optimism the supermajority Democrats would work with them, and a brief statement from the Democrats’ spokesman said the Senate should work together to pass meaningful legislation.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].