Ethics Panel Finds Turner Didn't Violate Ethics Rules, But . . .

This was a foregone conclusion. The House Ethics Committee today announced that the bipartisan committee found no violation of House Ethics Rules when State Rep. Eric Turner (R-Cicero), Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, lobbied his colleagues behind closed doors to defeat legislation that could have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars for his and his family's nursing home business interests. Instead, the committee let Turner off with a slap of the hand, concluding that the ethics statements he filed with the House fell short of transparency. The committee, which adjourned after a quick two-minute meeting, also concluded that current House ethics rules require too little disclosure. You think so? From the Star:

“While the committee does not find that technical violation has occurred, we are concerned that Representative Turner’s actions have not achieved the highest spirit of transparency,” the committee’s six-page report says. “Remaining questions about his conduct, while he is in compliance with our rules, gives us concern that our rules do not require enough disclosure.”

Turner's attorney, Toby McClamroch, immediately declared that his client had been totally exonerated by the investigation. A representative of Common Cause, Julia Vaughn, said "we should be disgusted that this sort of self-serving behavior isn't against the rules."