Highlights of ethics legislation in Illinois General Assembly

[May 29, 2009]  (AP)  Illinois lawmakers acted on a long list of ethics measures Thursday. Here's a look at the proposals:

CAMPAIGN FINANCE (HB7):

• Limits contributions to political candidates to $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per organization annually.
  

• Limits to $90,000 transfers from political committees to candidates or other committees.
  

• Adjusts limits for inflation on Jan. 1 each year.
  

• Does not limit "in-kind" contributions.
  

• Requires candidates to disclose fundraising balances quarterly, instead of semiannually

• Requires reporting immediately contributions of $500 or more within 60 days of an election, instead of 30 days.
  

• Allows opponents of independently wealthy candidates to exceed limits.
  

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SB189):

• Lets the attorney general issue binding decisions on disputes over access to records.
  

• Creates penalties for failing to release public records.
  

• Makes it easier for people to recover legal fees if they successfully sue for access to records.
  

• Limits the fees that may be charged for copying documents.

REDISTRICTING:

• Democratic leaders decided to postpone action on changing the way political districts are drawn after each census.
  

• Senate Democrats announced plans to conduct hearings on the issue over the summer.
  

• Members of Gov. Pat Quinn's Reform Commission said Quinn has indicated he will call a special session later in the year to act on redistricting changes.
  

RECALL (HJRCA31):

• Would let voters decide next year whether to amend the constitution so that a governor could be removed from office.
  

• Recall process could start only if 30 legislators signed an affidavit in support.
  

• Recall supporters would have to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures in just 150 days to trigger an election.
  

• If held, a recall election would simultaneously decide whether a governor is removed and select party nominees in the race to replace him.
  

EMPLOYEE "FUMIGATION" (SB1333):

• Applies to about 750 political appointees who got state jobs from Gov. Rod Blagojevich or Gov. George Ryan.
  

• Gives the new governor 90 days to review their performance and decide whether to keep them.
  

• If the governor doesn't take action, the appointees automatically lose their jobs.

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On the Net: www.ilga.gov

[Associated Press]

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