State Senator Li Arellano Jr (R-Dixon) released the following statement after the release of the report on the investigation of former State Rep. Harry Benton:
“I appreciate my colleagues who joined the efforts to release this investigative report. Transparency is critical, especially as fresh journalism reveals leadership invested significant resources and support in someone they knew was engaged in unethical behavior.
This is exactly why we need real transparency and reform in state government. The accountability process only works when the public can see what happened—clearly we have some leaders in Springfield who will not act until exterior pressure is applied.
While releasing this report is a start, it doesn’t fix the problem. Illinois needs deeper ethics reform that actually holds officials accountable. Republicans in both chambers have been pushing for it. Democrats have used their gerrymandered supermajority to block those efforts. They need to join the fight to introduce real accountability and ethical standards in Springfield.”
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