Citing a lack of “true ethics reform,” Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Carol Pope offered her resignation to members of the Legislative Ethics Commission on July 14.
Senate Republicans, who have been vocal about the ongoing issues of corruption and misconduct within state government, noted that this is just further evidence of the need to pass substantive ethics reforms in the legislature.
Earlier this year, lawmakers came together in a bipartisan effort to pass an ethics reform package that included a component to empower the LIG to investigate corruption allegations. Sen. Sue Rezin said that while this was a good step forward to begin addressing the ongoing ethical concerns in state government, there is still a lot to be done to ensure elected officials are held accountable for their actions and to address the longstanding history of legislator misconduct.
Senate Republican lawmakers sponsored several additional reforms proposed by the LIG that were never called before the Ethics Committee for a hearing.
LIG Pope offered her resignation immediately, until a replacement is chosen, or until her term ends in December.