At the Illinois State Fair this week, controversy surrounding ethics, transparency and complaints against lawmakers followed politicians from the State Capitol to the fairgrounds just 3 miles north.
A “workplace culture and accountability” working group was created by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch in response to issues of sexual harassment by a former member, Rep. Harry Benton, and the internal handling of complaints.
A third member, state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, D-Northbrook, has publicly withdrawn from participating in the group.
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie at a Republican Day event at the State Fair on Thursday was critical of the working group and said the House Dems should have a third party handling internal complaints, rather than self-policing.
McCombie’s comments come as Gov. J.B. Pritzker said a day before that Welch admitted the process of investigating Benton was “inadequate.”
Pritzker previously said the working group needed to work quickly, though no details have been made public on if the group has met or begun working on recommendations to reform the process of making internal complaints against lawmakers.
Welch’s office didn’t respond to The Center Square’s request for comment before publication.
Story from Illinois Radio Network
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