The reforms were inspired by the scandal surrounding Blagojevich,
who was arrested Dec. 9, 2008, on federal corruption charges and
later impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives and removed
from office by the Illinois Senate.
Blagojevich, who made a public appearance Tuesday at the
University of Chicago bookstore for a book-signing of his recently
released memoir, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on
trial next summer.
The new law sets limits on how much money people, interest groups
and political action committees can give to candidates.
But it has a loophole that's made some people unhappy: It would
only cap what political parties and legislative leaders can give to
candidates in primaries -- but not in general elections. That's
drawn criticism that could leave candidates too beholden to
political bosses.
[Associated Press]
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