Members of the Illinois House and Senate approved a modest ethics package Thursday, despite criticism from some Republican members that their proposals had been locked in legislative limbo, and that Democrats, including Senate President John Cullerton, a registered Chicago lobbyist, held too much influence over a new ethics task force.

Despite the complaints, SB1639 passed the House with only five dissenting votes. It requires state lobbyists to disclose other units of local government they also lobby and any elected or appointed offices they hold. Lobbying firms would have to disclose when they contract out to other lobbyists for each business or client. The Secretary of State will also be required to update its website to make it easier to use.

It comes in the midst of a bribery charge against former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who resigned earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty. Investigators allege he bribed a state senator for support of a gaming bill change. State Sen. Martin Sandoval also saw his offices raided by federal investigators. He has not been charged. State Sen. Tom Cullerton has been indicted on embezzlement charges for allegedly fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from a labor union he did little to no work for. He pleaded not guilty and his team has pledged to fight the allegations.

Leader Greg Harris described that bill as a “tiny step” toward strengthening future protections against past lapses from “wrongdoers on both sides of our aisle,” that he hoped would make things “more accountable and transparent.” Still, Harris said he was “sure there will be someone to run afoul” of the state’s rules.

“The days of corruption, self-dealing and politicians holding elected office in Illinois to enrich themselves must be brought to a swift end,” Governor JB Pritzker said in a release. “While significant work remains, the legislation passed today with overwhelming bipartisan majorities is a first step to strengthen ethics requirements and build greater transparency around lobbying, but they are not enough. Our efforts to tighten ethics reforms will continue in earnest and with urgency in the next session, and I am committed to working with leaders from both sides of the aisle get this work done. Illinoisans deserve public officials who operate with integrity, and this administration will not rest until trust is fully restored.”

Rep. Jaime Andrade, who is registered to lobby in the City of Chicago, said the state should pay legislators enough so that they did not need other jobs that might conflict with their work. Describing himself as “basically a paper pusher” who began the work when payments to legislators halted amidst the budget deadlock last term, Andrade told colleagues, “I want to be a full time legislator but you won’t give me a raise.”

“Jesus Christ, I had to drive Uber but it wasn’t enough,” he continued, pointing to other legislators whose private work intersected with their legislative business.

Republican legislators had complaints that HJR93, which would create a joint commission on ethics and lobbying reform, was imbalanced in favor of Democrats. It still cleared the House and Senate.

Republican members also complained that their ethics proposals had been stuck in committee without a fair hearing. They introduced a five-part legislative package earlier this month that banned legislators and immediate family members from lobbying, increased economic disclosures about outside work and communications with state agencies about contracts.

Rep. Tim Butler asked rhetorically, “We’re allowing someone who is a lobbyist in the state of Illinois to appoint a co-chair?” Cullerton is a registered lobbyist with the City of Chicago (he has not logged any lobbying activity since 2016). “There needs to be more balance. I will vote for this because this is a step forward, but hopefully we can address some of those situations,” Butler said.

Cullerton spokesman John Patterson said the city has a much broader definition of lobbyist and that Cullerton is registered out of an abundance of caution “given the legal work he does as a lawyer in Chicago.”

“Obviously he will not appoint a lobbyist to the commission,” Patterson said.

The ethics commission would include appointees from all four legislative leaders from both parties, the governor, plus appointees and inspectors general from the Attorney General and Secretary of State’s offices. It’s expected to release its recommendations for changes before the end of March.