Illinois allows lawmaker conflicts of interest

The indictment of state Rep. Carol Ammons is a reminder that Illinois still relies on the honor system in conflicts of interest.

he federal indictment this week of a state representative is a reminder that Illinois lawmakers are on the honor system when it comes to conflicts of interest.

Rep. Carol Ammons was indicted July 7 on charges of wire fraud, making false statements to a federal investigator and obstruction of justice in an alleged apparent scheme to divert state grant money to herself and her daughter.

Key to the case is the alleged conflict of interest of Ammons aiding in arranging appropriations for state grants to go to Hood Votes Neighborhood Transformation, where her daughter was program director.

Voting for appropriations that will go to pay a close family member is a clear conflict of interest, but in Illinois, lawmakers are on the honor system there. State law reads:

When a legislator must take official action on a legislative matter as to which he has a conflict situation created by a personal, family, or client legislative interest, he should consider the possibility of eliminating the interest creating the conflict situation. If that is not feasible, he should consider the possibility of abstaining from such official action.(Emphasis added.)

Most states require lawmakers to disclose any conflict of interest before a vote, to recuse themselves from voting on any legislation where they have a conflict of interest, or both.

In those states, lawmakers who violate the requirements can face stiff civil and criminal penalties.

With such a recusal provision in place, Ammons’ alleged corruption might have been caught earlier.

Mandatory disclosure and recusal requirements are not mainly for blatantly corrupt behavior. They are there to keep lawmakers transparent and accountable.

Illinois state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, will leave the General Assembly in January after losing her primary bid for state comptroller. In the meantime, she has already started as executive director at the Construction Industry Service Corp.

So while still working for her constituents, she’ll also be working for a labor union management non-profit, according to CapitolFax.

Illinois lawmakers are some of the highest-paid in the country, but even so, many have additional sources of income, with some even working as property tax attorneys and lobbyists for the city of Chicago.

In principle, lawmakers benefit from having private-sector experience outside of politics. But private industry often stands to benefit or lose from legislation working its way through Springfield. When lawmakers are tied to those industries, clear conflicts of interest can result.

Even though the 2026 regular legislative session has ended, it is still possible, and even likely, for legislation involving labor union construction to come up  during the veto session or in a special session while Kifowit is still in office          .

Illinois conflict-of-interest provision is little more than a suggestion.

There is no indication that Kifowit will ignore that suggestion, but with numerous examples of corruption in the state, Illinois lawmakers have not earned the benefit of the doubt. They should be required to disclose any conflicts of interests and recuse      themselves from voting on any measure in which they have a conflict. They also need to be given time to read legislation before a vote to determine if a conflict exists.