Those being reformed must OK reforms

The following editorial appeared in the (Decatur) Herald & Review on Feb. 16:

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(MCT) — Consider this the classic Catch-22: To get meaningful reforms, Illinoisans should be able to bypass the legislature to enact ethics measures. But before voters can get that power, the legislature has to approve placing the proposed amendment on the ballot.

Do you want to bet how eager lawmakers will be to yield that power to voters?

Nevertheless, it’s worth a try.

Gov. Pat Quinn is getting behind an amendment sponsored by state Sen. Annazette Collins, D-Chicago, that would enable citizens to use the initiative process to establish ethical standards for state and local officeholders and candidates.

Quinn is calling it the “Lincoln Amendment,” invoking the name of Honest Abe; a nice touch that is a catchy name but will do little to gain passage of SJRCA 55.

You see, to get on the ballot, the proposal needs support from three-fifths of the members in each chamber.

In reality, what it needs is the support of the House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. Otherwise, it’s unlikely to even get a vote; or, if it does reach the floor, the votes will fall short as leaders “suggest” to members how they should vote.

Madigan, Cullerton and others likely will say the initiative process is unnecessary because lawmakers are doing such a great job of policing themselves and passing needed reforms.

Yeah, right. That’s why Illinois voters have had the opportunity to vote on amendments to reform the ridiculous redistricting process, set term limits for legislative leaders, abolish the office of lieutenant governor and merge the comptroller and treasurer’s office.

Oh wait, most of those never made it out of committee.

Several of those ideas are back again.

At least seven constitutional amendments have been proposed within the past year or so that would limit the time lawmakers could serve in majority or minority leadership posts in the House and Senate.  Another eight proposals would set term limits on all lawmakers, and a few of those would include the executive branch.

Quinn made a name for himself with the citizen initiative process, in particular, spearheading the Legislative Cutback Amendment that reduced the size of the General Assembly; one of the few areas in which the Constitution permits change through the initiative process. So maybe throwing his weight behind this plan will help, or maybe it’s a way to divert attention from the state’s other problems.