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Sponsored
by Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, and Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris
City, the governor's proposal calls for a total ban on all
contributions from corporations and unions and limits contributions
from individuals to $2,000 per candidate per election and from
political committees and state parties to $5,000 per candidate per
election. Illinois is currently one of only five states with no
limits on campaign contributions.
"This proposal means dramatic and
fundamental change to the way campaign finance works in Illinois,"
said Gov. Blagojevich. "It brings our system in line with the
federal system. If we're successful, for the first time ever
Illinois will have strict limitations in place on who donates to
political campaigns and how much they can contribute. When I was a
member of Congress, I voted for the McCain-Feingold campaign reform
package. Applying it to state officeholders in Illinois is the right
thing to do."
 "Illinois' lack of restrictions on
campaign fundraising and expenditures has made the public
distrustful of politicians and cynical of the system," said Ronen,
the Senate sponsor of the proposal. "This proposal is a very
important first step toward regaining the public's trust. I am proud
to sponsor the governor's plan because it is a meaningful and
broad-based effort to reform what is now a broken system."
Following
the framework of limitations and prohibitions in effect under
federal law, the governor's plan:
- Completely prohibits
contributions from corporations and unions. This would be
Illinois' first limitation on contributions from any corporate
entity.
- Limits individuals to
contributions of $2,000 per candidate per election. This would be
the first limit ever placed on donations to candidates by
individuals in Illinois.
- Limits political action
committees to contributions of $5,000 per candidate per election.
This is the first limit ever placed on donations to candidates
from political action committees in Illinois.
- Limits state party contributions
to $5,000 per candidate per election.
- Limits contributions to state
parties and political action committees to $5,000 a year from
individuals or other political action committees.
- Prohibits an individual from
contributing more than $40,000 in total contributions to all
candidates, party committees and political action committees in
any election cycle.
- Includes provisions for
candidates whose opponents exceed the threshold amount of personal
spending -- mirroring the federal law.
"Today, I stand by my governor in
support of this critical legislation," said Phelps, who is
sponsoring the proposal in the House. "I believe it's a
common-sense, necessary and broad plan that addresses the public
cynicism about the political process. I encourage my colleagues in
the Illinois General Assembly to join us in this effort."
"Illinois has a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to pass long-overdue ethics and campaign finance
reforms," Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said. "Democracy in the Land of Lincoln
should be about 'one person, one vote', not 'one dollar, one vote.'"
The governor is also calling for a
series of new, thorough ethics reforms, ranging from increased
public disclosure of financial interests to limits on who can lobby
state government. The governor's plan includes many of the proposals
that have been outlined by advocacy groups like the Illinois
Campaign for Political Reform and Common Cause/Illinois, as well as
some components that have been introduced by Sens. Ira Silverstein,
D-Chicago, and David Sullivan, R-Park Ridge, and Reps. Sara
Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, and Elizabeth Coulson, R-Glenview.
The
governor's proposal:
- Improves statements of economic
interest. Currently, Illinois requires public officials to report
limited information about their occupation, employer and potential
conflicts of interest. The governor is calling for a greater level
of detail regarding public officials' financial holdings and
potential conflicts of interest.
- Requires disclosure of lobby
contracts and improved lobbyist regulations. Current law requires
lobbyists to list their clients and gifts on public disclosure
forms. The governor's plan requires lobbyists to disclose the
terms of their contracts, including fees and exactly whom they
lobby.
- Closes the revolving door between
public officials and lobbying firms. Current law places a one-year
prohibition on former state employees working for companies they
regulated or to which they awarded contracts. The governor calls
for extending the law by requiring a one-year prohibition on
lobbying by all former legislators and state employees.
[to top of second column in this article] |
- Strengthens the State Board of
Elections' enforcement powers. For example, the governor's
proposal would allow the State Board of Elections to perform
audits of election committees to determine that the committee is
complying with state laws, including contribution limits.
- Distributes nonpartisan candidate
information through voters guides. Voters guides would be posted
online by the State Board of Elections and would contain
information such as the date and time of the general election, a
description of elected offices, and statements and photographs of
candidates for the General Assembly, statewide executive branch
constitutional offices, Illinois Supreme Court justice and
Illinois Appellate Court judge.
- Provides more frequent campaign
financial disclosure. Current law requires candidates to report
their campaign finances twice a year. The governor proposes
requiring candidates to file their campaign finances quarterly.
- Prohibits law firms, consulting
firms and lobbying firms that have contracts with the state
(including the governor's, attorney general's, secretary of
state's, comptroller's and treasurer's offices; state agencies; or
state regulatory boards) from providing income to members of the
state legislature, state employees and board appointees.
- Prohibits legislators or state
employees from earning outside income by directly lobbying or
receiving compensation from any firm that lobbies the General
Assembly or any agency of the executive branch. This includes
lobbying the office of the governor, attorney general, secretary
of state, comptroller or treasurer; state agencies; or state
regulatory boards.
- Prohibits family members of state
employees, including those of legislators, from lobbying the state
(including all constitutional offices, state agencies and state
regulatory boards) or from serving on state boards or commissions
for which they receive compensation.
- Conflict of interest provision.
The governor's plan prohibits a public official or public employee
from voting or making an official decision if the official or
employee (or a business or organization they or a family member is
associated with) has a financial interest in the vote or decision.
- Prohibits any officer of any
state campaign organization from receiving state contracts,
lobbying the state (including the office of the governor, attorney
general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer; state
agencies; or state regulatory boards) or participating in
investments involving the state.
Cynthia Canary, director of Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform, said: "The campaign finance reform proposal released today
by Governor Blagojevich offers a thoughtful and comprehensive
solution to long-standing public concerns about the influence of
money in Illinois politics. The Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform believes this plan will put Illinois in step with the rest of
the nation and let the voters know their voices have been heard over
the din of special interest money. We encourage the General Assembly
to act on these measures."
Hugo Rojas, executive director of
Common Cause/Illinois, said: "Campaign contributions limits exist in
45 states. We applaud this proposal by the governor and hope that
Illinois is finally ready to join to rest of the nation in setting
limits in the amount of money unions corporations and individuals
can give to political campaigns. Limiting the influence of money in
Springfield will help end business as usual. We hope that the
governor and the legislature can work together to make this a
reality before the end of this session."
Also supporting the governor's
sweeping and comprehensive reform plan is Judge Abner J. Mikva.
Currently a visiting professor at the University of Chicago, Mikva
has devoted nearly half a century to public service and has made
countless contributions toward transparency and ethics in
government. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives, the
U.S. Congress and as chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit. He also served as White House
counsel in the mid-'90s.
"I support the governor's proposal
because it represents the first comprehensive plan to stop the
influence peddlers from having their way in Springfield," Mikva
said. "The governor's plan covers contributions, it covers spending,
and it addresses the relationship between elected officials and
lobbyists. The people of this state would be well-served by this
proposal."
"I urge members of the General
Assembly to pass this proposal," Gov. Blagojevich said. "It's time
we pass a comprehensive set of rules to govern how political
candidates finance campaigns."
[News release from the governor's
office] |
