Peter Hancock/Capitol News Illinois file photo Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope announced her resignation last week and will leave office by Dec. 15. She cited several reasons, including her thwarted attempt to issue subpoenas without any checks or balances. “True ethics reform,” she said of the legislature, “is not a priority.” Ms. Pope was certainly right about some things. For instance, state law currently allows inspector generals to open an investigation based on allegations, including in the news media. But that was disallowed under a new bill — passed by the General Assembly in May and transmitted to the governor on June 30 — unless the allegation is submitted as a formal complaint.