Friday, May 29, 2009
 
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Highlights of ethics legislation in Illinois General Assembly

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[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.

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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]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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