General Assembly appoints new lawmaker watchdog as GOP decries search process
By JERRY NOWICKI
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly this week fast-tracked the approval of their party’s appointee to the watchdog position tasked with investigating lawmaker misconduct.
A harshly partisan debate and near one-party approval for the legislative inspector general nominee, former federal Judge Michael McCuskey, came despite members of both parties offering high praise for the candidate. The appointment passed on partisan lines in the Senate and with support of a handful of Republicans in the House.
The post had been vacant since last month, which led Democrats to push McCuskey’s nomination to the floor this week without approval from a search committee defined in law, according to Senate President Don Harmon’s Wednesday nomination of McCuskey in the Senate.
At least one case was pending before the vacant office, making the appointment more urgent, according to Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside.
“We’ve learned from past experience that the vacancy in that office should be filled very quickly,” Harmon said on the Senate floor. “The Legislative Ethics Commission has been deadlocked for four months now.”
Republicans speaking against the appointment didn’t specifically cite concerns about McCuskey’s background or character, but rather took issue with the Democratic effort to bypass certain steps in the appointment process.
Each party accused the other of political motivations.
McCuskey was approved as a federal judge unanimously by the Republican-held U.S. Senate upon his nomination by President Bill Clinton in 1998, retiring in 2014.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, joined several other lawmakers in stating he believed McCuskey to be a decent man with great integrity who can “call balls and strikes appropriately.”
Durkin voted present on the appointment, as he and fellow Republicans charged the Democrats with bypassing a non-lawmaker review panel and forwarding the nomination to the floor without approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission.
The four-member search committee, made up of lawmaker-appointed former judges or prosecutors, makes recommendations to the eight-member Legislative Ethics Commission, which is made up evenly of Democrats and Republicans and chaired by Republican Sen. Jil Tracy, of Quincy.
“If we’re just going to say that the statutes, which are the law of the land, are advisory, we don’t have to follow them, I think it’s a poor reflection upon this process. It’s not a reflection on Judge McCuskey,” Durkin said.
Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, who sponsored the appointment in the House, said the Legislative Ethics Commission has been at a deadlock for 91 days.
The initial candidates put forth by each party failed to gain the necessary support from the Commission, as did a third candidate, so Democrats brought forth McCuskey after the search panel concluded its business.
The conversation in each chamber became contentious at times, with the GOP saying they would support McCuskey on an “acting” basis while giving a citizen oversight panel time to fully vet the candidate.
The Republican members of the Ethics Commission even said McCuskey was open to serving in the acting role until completing the process in its entirety. That would have been a palatable solution, according to Commission member Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, who said it would have worked as a bridge to the end of the term of the outgoing LIG.
But Democrats didn’t want to approve McCuskey on an interim basis.
“If he’s qualified enough to be the acting LIG, he’s qualified enough to be the permanent LIG,” West responded.
Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, who is a candidate for lt. governor, said lawmakers approved the current search process to make the LIG hiring process “beyond reproach.” But she said bypassing the search committee sends a message that the majority gets to choose its own watchdog.
“If we want a truly independent watchdog and to restore the confidence of the people of Illinois and the people in our own body that we can police ourselves, we’ve got to be better than this,” she said. “This isn’t just about process. This is about whether or not you actually want to have a legislative watchdog that’s respected and that can be a watchdog over the General Assembly. And with what you’re doing today, it’s clear that you don’t.”
Welch said Republicans were “playing politics” in trying to delay the vote. “Let’s get down to the important work that we’re all here to do. We’ve got eight weeks ahead of us a lot of work to do in that eight weeks. Let’s stop the games and get some important work done today. Let’s all appoint someone that everyone here today – everyone, everyone that I’ve heard, speak here today – has said is exceptionally qualified.”
In Senate debate Wednesday, Sen. Dave Koehler, a Peoria Democrat, said he could vouch for McCuskey’s character and experience. Koehler said he’s known McCuskey for years and considers him a close friend.
“I will say this as a friend,” he said. “I don’t intend to do this, but if I were to ever go astray and do things that are ethically not consistent with this body, Judge McCuskey would not hesitate but to hold me accountable for that.”
The inspector general position has been in the news as of late after Carol Pope announced her planned resignation from it last year, calling the post a “paper tiger.” She extended her planned resignation date several times to give lawmakers an opportunity to fill the position, but left office last month in the absence of legislative action on a replacement.
The appointment advanced 37-18 in the Senate Wednesday with only Democratic support. It passed the House 77-16 with 19 “present” votes.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Local News
Baseball Class 4A Sectionals | Third straight state title eludes history-making Nazareth
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 2022 and 2023, Nazareth jumped to Class 4A this season and did not miss a beat.The Roadrunners cruised to 37 straight victories heading into their sectional championship matchup with Mount Carmel. The Caravan scored two late runs in a tight contest and…
Mount Carmel dethrones unbeaten, two-time defending champ Nazareth for sectional title
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Mount Carmel came into its Class 4A sectional matchup against Nazareth viewed as the underdog. The favored Roadrunners did, after all, enter the game 37-0 and were gunning for a third consecutive state championship. The Caravan have respect for the Roadrunners, but they would never call themselves an underdog;…
Marist tops York for its fourth boys volleyball state title
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent What does it take to make a state champion? “We had guys that I’ve been hard on for nine months,” Marist boys volleyball coach Jordan Vidovic said. “All for a five-point stretch. “None of them ran away from the challenge.” How big were some of those five-point stretches? The…
Red Stars ready for Wrigley
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After weeks of hype and anticipation, the Chicago Red Stars are finally ready to invade Wrigley Field. While the Red Stars may not draw the NWSL record of 34,130 spectators they were hoping for on June 8, they do have a shot to surpass the franchise record 23,951, which…
Area Sports Roundup | New coaches named at Richards and Stagg
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few area high school coaching vacancies have been filled, including those for Richards boys basketball and Stagg football. Jamal Thompson takes over at Richards for Kyle Rathbun. Thompson has experience coaching at Seton, Leo and St. Rita. Jacob O’Connor will lead Stagg football, where he takes the reins…
Memorial service honors longtime Independence art teacher
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Palos School District 128 honored the life of one of its beloved educators with a Memorial Service. The service at Independence Jr. High School, 6610 W. Highland Dr., Palos Heights, May 24 honored the legacy of longtime art teacher, Mike Maholland, of Hickory Hills, who passed away on February 18.…
Oak Lawn Chamber to sponsor Restaurant Week
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong More than a dozen restaurants have signed up to take part in the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Restaurant Week in June. “This is a new endeavor for us,” said Anne Fritz, chamber executive director. “This will be our unofficial kick off to summer.” Fritz said the chamber’s marketing…
One-in-a-million blue-eyed cicada found in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Kelly Simkins is an aspiring musician and someday she just might hit the stage and perform a Frank Sinatra song. Meanwhile, the Crestwood resident is partnering with another “Ol Blue Eyes” for a little fame. So, start spreading the news… Simkins, who owns Merlin’s Rockin’ Pet Show, was in Orland…
Neighbors
Davion Lawrence’s double-double leads Oak Lawn over Richards
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent When they were growing up, Johnny McGowan had the upper hand when squaring off on the court against Davion Lawrence. “Me and him go way back,” said McGowan, a senior guard at Oak Lawn. “He used to sleep over at my house when we were younger. We went to…
Funds flow to Back of the Yards
Spread the loveFour groups get grants; millions more available By Tim Hadac Four organizations in Back of the Yards—three businesses and a non-profit—are among 31 awarded more than $14.4 million in small business grants being allocated through the Chicago Recovery Plan. They are: Diaz Group Office Space, 5100 S. Damen, $250,000. El Nuevo Guadalajara, 4350…
Offer reward in grandma’s slaying
Spread the loveWas shot on 71st Street By Tim Hadac A $15,500 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed a 49-year-old grandmother in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. Tamiko L. Talbert Fleming, of south suburban Dolton, was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle at 71st…
A sweet salesgirl
Spread the love Alessandra Valentina Paredes, a Daisy Scout with Girl Scout Troop 20637 (sponsored by St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish), shows a sweet smile as she begins her first-ever time selling Girl Scout Cookies. The daughter of West Lawn residents Jose Antonio and Lorena Paredes, Alessandra, age 5, joined the Daisies just four months…
Midway is new for Frontier
Spread the loveLow-fare airline coming in April By Tim Hadac Low-fare passenger airline options are set to increase at Midway International Airport this spring, with the arrival of Frontier Airlines. The expansion of air travel options was announced at a press conference last week at the airport. With 10 new nonstop routes taking off starting…
Rush rips USDA over plight of black farmers
Spread the love‘House is on fire,’ congressman says From staff reports U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) recently questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about what Rush called “the dire prognosis of black farmers in the U.S. and the steps USDA is taking to help minority farmers.” “As you well know, our nation’s…
Charge man with Archer Heights carjacking
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Police say they’ve solved a carjacking that occurred in Archer Heights earlier this month. An 18-year-old Southeast Side man was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking in connection with the crime. Monte Handley, of the 9000 block of South Muskegon, was apprehended by police in the 7500 block of South Ellis…
Charge man in shooting of 2
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac A 22-year-old West Lawn man was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, after he was arrested in the 3700 block of West Marquette Road at 4:06 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Isaiah Barco allegedly shot two men in a crime that…
Many crimes down in Orland, but weapons arrests concerning
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell had mostly good news when revealing the village’s 2021 crime statistics. But one glaring area that has him bothered is the number of unlawful use of a weapon arrests that have been shooting up. Mitchell and Mayor Keith Pekau attribute it to felons from…