 The bill would cap the amount of money that people, interest groups
and political committees can give to candidates. The goal is to end
worries that donors who give $10,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 are
buying themselves special treatment from elected officials.The
caps have one major exception. Political parties and legislative
leaders would face limits during primary elections but would be able
to give unlimited amounts to candidates during the general election.
Critics say it means candidates would be more dependent than ever
on winning the favor of someone like House Speaker Michael Madigan,
who leads House Democrats and chairs the Illinois Democratic Party.
A lawmaker who wants Madigan's financial help might feel intense
pressure to follow his instructions in the Legislature.
"What you are asking us to do is give away our independence, give
away our independence to the leaders," said Sen. Mike Jacobs of East
Moline, one of the few Democrats to criticize the measure.
Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, has ducked questions about whether he
supports the measure. On Friday, spokesman Bob Reed would only say
that the governor will review it.
Government watchdog groups agreed to support the measure, despite
the loophole for party leaders, after weeks of negotiations with
Democratic leaders. They concluded this was the best deal they could
get.
Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform, said voters should see it as just one step toward repairing
the damage done by two consecutive scandals involving Illinois
governors.
"Their confidence in state government has been eviscerated,"
Canary said. "This should be part of a rebuilding process."
Former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, is in prison right now.
His successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich, was booted out of office in
January after being arrested on federal corruption charges.
The measure, one of the highest-profile ethics proposals to
follow Blagojevich's impeachment, passed 36-22. The House had
approved it late Thursday night.
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Right now, Illinois law places no cap at all on political
contributions. The measure would limit candidates to taking $5,000
from individuals; $10,000 from unions, businesses and interest
groups; and $50,000 from political action committees during each
election cycle.
Groups like the Campaign for Political Reform and CHANGE Illinois
also wanted to limit donations from political parties and the four
legislative leaders. Republican leaders agreed.
But Democratic leaders objected, wanting political parties and
top legislators to continue being able to give unlimited amounts.
Sen. Don Harmon, a key negotiator for Senate Democrats, defended
the compromise of limiting the leaders' donations during primary
elections but not general elections.
He argued that primaries are when insiders might potentially
punish rebellious lawmakers by supporting a rival. They would not
back someone from the other party in a general election, Harmon
said.
The measure also requires quick, year-round disclosure when
candidates accept $1,000 or more, gives the State Board of Elections
new enforcement authority, and sets up a task force to recommend
more ways to strengthen campaign finance laws.
"A vote against this is a vote against transparency. A vote
against this is a vote against accountability," said Sen. Dan
Kotowski, D-Park Ridge.
[Associated Press;
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS]
Associated Press writer Jim Suhr
contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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