East Central Reporter

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Robinson) can see how it didn’t take Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Carol Pope long to tire of Springfield.

“I can’t blame her,” Miller said in a statement after Pope announced in a resignation letter she plans to officially walk away in December. “Listening to the Democrats in charge of Springfield - the state’s alleged leaders - talk about ethics reform is like listening to Charlie Sheen give relationship advice: pointless. It’s all just a show.”

A former prosecutor and judge, Pope was ushered into power in Springfield in 2019 amid much fanfare, marking the first permanent inspector to be appointed to the post in four years.

Miller argues none of it was meant to bring about the level of change that’s needed.

“They’re not interested in changing anything,” Miller said. “The system works exactly as they designed it. I was one of just 5 ‘No’ votes on their recent phony ethics reform bill, because I wasn’t going to continue this charade. Ms. Pope’s resignation confirms what a sham that legislation was. Hopefully voters will wake up to it and vote in new leadership next year. We desperately need to change the way Illinois has been operating.”

Senate Bill 539, which now sits on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk, would require the filing of a complaint before the LIG can undertake an investigation. The bill would also prohibit the LIG from launching an investigation based solely on public allegations raised in the news media.

“This last legislative session demonstrated true ethics reform is not a priority,” Pope noted in her resignation letter. “The LIG has no real power to effect change or shine a light on ethics violations; the position is essentially a paper tiger.”

While Pope told The State Journal-Register she holds out hope the General Assembly will be able to find a quality replacement for her, she adds, “but I think it will be difficult to find someone of high integrity to take the job because of the limitations in the statute.”

To have any chance of being effective, Pope said the position needs more independence, with the LIG having the power to issue subpoenas and reports without first being required to get the approval of the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission.

Since appearing before a Joint Commission to offer testimony on Ethics Reform nearly 18 months ago, Pope said all of the issues she raised about her office “are still unimproved today” except for a provision in HB 539 that would let the inspector general initiate an investigation.