SPRINGFIELD, IL… State Representative Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda) announced today that Patrick Collins, Chairman of Governor Pat Quinn’s Illinois Reform Commission (IRC), came to Springfield to discuss the commission’s recommendations at an open caucus held by House Republican legislators.

“I was thrilled that Chairman Collins came to Springfield to discuss the IRC’s recommendations,” said Rep. Beaubien. “While I may not agree with each and every one of the recommendations, I do believe that they all deserve an open, public debate and ultimately each one should be given an up or down vote by the legislature. It is important that we debate ways to bring transparency to state government in the open, not behind closed doors, and this open forum was a good first step.”

The IRC took hundreds of hours of testimony and put together an unbiased list of reforms aimed at cleaning up state government and restoring the public’s trust. Members of the IRC included people like Reverend Willis, who lost his children in the George Ryan licenses for bribes truck scandal, and Pam Davis, a whistleblower who sparked the federal investigation that led to the impeachment and removal from office of Rod Blagojevich. Many of the reforms have also been endorsed by numerous newspaper editorial boards, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Daily Herald.

“I am doing everything I can to help get these reform ideas moving in the legislature, and because time is running so short, I call on Speaker Madigan to give each of the reform proposals a fair hearing on the House floor,” said Rep. Beaubien. “He should immediately convene a Committee of the Whole to discuss the recommendations for needed ethics reforms as presented the IRC. Unfortunately, it clear that the Democrats are dismantling this legislation to either water it down or sweep it under the rug; like they did with the Recall Amendment and the Special Election for the United States Senate.”

Beaubien is serving his seventh term as state representative in the Illinois General Assembly. The 52nd District includes all or parts of the communities of Barrington, Wauconda, Round Lake, Cary, Ingleside, Island Lake, Fox Lake, Lakemoor, Volo, Tower Lakes, Fox River Grove, McHenry, Crystal Lake, Holiday Hills, Prairie Grove, Johnsburg, Wonder Lake, and Woodstock.