The Cook County Board of Commissioners's Finance Committee passed an ordinance by a 14-2 margin this afternoon that changes the county's ethics and campaign finance laws. The reforms were put forward by Independent Assessor candidate Forrest Claypool and were thought to be targeted at Democratic nominee Joe Berrios, currently a member of the Cook County Board of Review. From a Claypool press release:

Today’s actions by the Board’s Finance Committee, which is a committee of the entire board, gives new enforcement powers to the ethics board and, for the first time, puts the responsibility for complying with campaign contribution limits on the elected official.  Elected officials could now be fined up to $5,000 per offense, if they fail to return prohibited contributions.  It also closes compliance loopholes and gives new enforcement tools to the Ethics Board.

The full board could take a final vote on the package this coming Wednesday.