SPRINGFIELD – A longstanding champion of ethics reform in Illinois, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) helped pass a measure to hold elected officials, lobbyists and insiders to the highest standards.

“Ethics needs to be taken seriously and members of the General Assembly need to be held accountable,” Bush said. “This measure is about adopting ethics changes that will address the systemic culture within Illinois government.”

Senate Bill 539 makes a number of changes to current ethics laws, including prohibiting elected officials from lobbying other units of government for entities that lobby them, instituting a revolving door for executive branch elected officials and legislators becoming lobbyists and pro-rating salaries of General Assembly members who leave office prior to the end of their term, among other items.

Senator Bush has been a steadfast advocate of ethics-related measures since first entering the General Assembly in 2013. Most recently, she passed sweeping reforms targeting harassment and discrimination and included major reforms to the state’s ethics investigation process.

“This reform is just one step toward meaningful stride of restoring public trust in its elected officials,” Bush said. “Our work does not end until every person under the dome – from lawmakers to lobbyists – acts with morality and ethics.”

The measure passed both chambers.