State Senator Seeks To Limit Attorney General
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) -- An Illinois state senator wants to make sure the attorney general doesn't argue cases where there's a conflict of interest, but he faces an uphill battle.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Alex Degman reports, state Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) says Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan frequently takes a public stance on an issue, then argues for the other side when it's brought to court.
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"In terms of public confidence in what she does in representing state agencies, it's important that we do something to try to mitigate what appears to be a serious conflict of interest, and that's what we're driving at here," Righter said.
Righter's legislation would require the attorney general to appoint a special assistant attorney general to any case with perceived conflict of interest situations.
The special assistant attorney general would come from within the state agency in question.
But the attorney general's office says it is the AG's constitutional responsibility to represent such agencies.
Righter's bill failed to advance from a Democratic-controlled committee.
