Sims joins ethics commission in hopes of holding legislators accountable

CHICAGO—To respond to recent allegations involving Springfield lawmakers and prevent future wrongdoing, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. has been named as the co-chair of a new joint legislative commission that will recommend changes to state ethics laws.

“The last several months have seen very troubling developments and the people of Illinois expect us to be and do better,” Sims said. “For the people to have faith in their government we must hold ourselves to the highest of standards, and when public officials do wrong, they should face the consequences. Those are the beliefs that will guide me as I serve on this commission.”

The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform was formed after the General Assembly passed legislation to create the commission to review the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, the Lobbyist Registration Act, the Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act and the Ethics and Disclosure Article of the Procurement Code. The Commission will hold public hearings and issue a final report by March 31, 2020, giving the General Assembly enough time to act to implement reforms before the end of the upcoming spring session.

“It needs to be clear: our government must be held accountable and I look forward to this commission finding ways to prevent the situations which gave rise to recent developments,” Sims said. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with my colleagues in both chambers to come up with solutions which are in the best interest of our state and will make a measurable difference in improving the quality of our government.”

Resources available to Illinois business owners

It is so important that Illinois business owners are able to easily take advantage of the resources that are available to them. That way, businesses can continue to prosper in this great state.

Please see a list of resources here: http://bit.ly/ilbizresources

How to do business with IDOT

We're hosting educational workshops on how to do business with the Illinois Department of Transportation on Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to noon at South Suburban College located at 15800 State St., South Holland, IL.

This FREE event is a great opportunity for you to learn the fundamentals of the contracting process, certifications and more! I hope to see you there.

Sims statement on NCAA Allowing Student-Athlete Compensation

Governor JB Pritzker, Representative Chris Welch and Senator Elgie Sims released the following joint statement after the NCAA announced they will allow student-athletes to be compensated for their names, images and likenesses:

“It’s clear that student-athletes deserve to have rights in a billion-dollar industry they helped build. After advocating for our legislation in Illinois, the NCAA took a welcome – though overdue – step forward to allow students to be compensated for their names and likenesses. We remain committed to being the voice of student-athletes in Illinois and will monitor this decision to ensure it is fully implemented. Today is a victory for student-athletes around the country who are fighting for fairness and equity, and we will continue to fight alongside you.”