A measure in the Illinois Senate would prevent elected officials from promoting new programs and grants before an election.
The proposal is in response to an audit of the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative or NRI. Former Governor Pat Quinn started the 50 million dollar anti-violence program shortly before the 2010 election.
Republican Senator Darin LaHood calls the program a "failure." He, along with the auditor general, say the program lacked proper oversight.
"How do we make government and this program more effective, efficient, accountable and ethically sound?"
LaHood says the answer is preventing elected officials from making announcements about programs and grants awarded by a State agency less than two months before an election.
He says Quinn used the announcement of the NRI to bring in more votes and win the 2010 election. Quinn admitted problems within the NRI, but denied using it as an election year gimmick.