Former Gov. Pat Quinn knows about petitions.

He joined State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) Tuesday to announce a proposed constitutional amendment to take on Illinois’ ethics shortcomings.

“Since 2018,” Quinn said, “we’ve had ten – ten! – Illinois legislators, former or current, indicted and / or convicted for felonies involving public corruption. Isn’t that an alarm bell to all of us that we’ve got to roll up our sleeves and do more?”

In addition to serving six years as governor, Quinn is probably best known for shepherding the Cutback Amendment in 1980, in which the Illinois House reduced from 177 members to the current 118.

The announcement comes in the wake of a 2 ½ year prison term handed to Tim Mapes, longtime chief of staff to former House Speaker Mike Madigan, who himself awaits trial on corruption charges.