Donors consider where their money goes

[July 21, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois State Board of Elections set a Tuesday deadline for all of the state's political candidates to submit their campaign contribution reports. The reports are supposed to list which individuals, companies and interest groups contributed money and services to political campaigns over the first half of 2010.

The leading candidates for the state's highest office are Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Voters won't have to decide their pick for governor until November, but both sides are showcasing their contribution totals, if not their donor lists, as a sign of political strength.

(See related article: Quinn, Brady cash dash unique)

The Quinn campaign and the Brady campaign had already released preliminary fundraising numbers. Both campaigns indicated that as of June 30, they had $2.3 million to spend on the race.

But there is still a long way to go, according to David Morrison, deputy director of the watchdog Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Morrison said some influential interest groups could wait until they have a clearer idea which candidate best aligns with their goals, or is most likely to win, before throwing their money and support behind him.

"There are a lot of big-money interest groups -- the doctors, the trial lawyers, the bankers -- who will raise a lot of money and kind of keep it sitting on the sideline. And they may not commit to giving checks to people until September, October, late October," he said.

Bill Olson, president of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, said they will ask their members which candidate the association should back. He added that sometimes in tight races, the association will back both candidates.

The beer distributors' political action committee, or lobbying arm, supported both Brady and Quinn in their primary elections.

While Olson said his association does not endorse candidates, it will financially back candidates based on a combination of previous votes on legislation, surveys and members' wishes.

"(Our PAC money) is not our association's money. It is our members' money that they give to us to support candidates. And we ask them if they have an interest in any particular candidate that they want for us to consider supporting. ... So that's also part of our process," he said.

Morrison said some lobbying associations will back opposing candidates to ensure their interests are covered no matter what happens in a close election.

"There are absolutely interest groups, political action committees, individuals who are more concerned with having access to whoever is in power than they are supporting an ideological position," he said.

Olson said if both candidates fit certain prerequisites, he doesn't see a problem with supporting both candidates.

He also denies the premise from some critics that interest groups are just trying to purchase influence with politicians.

"The lobbyists really aren't part of the (legislative) process. We don't vote," Olson said. "If there's any campaign reform that should be looked at, I would say that it's important that the legislators, candidates themselves look at putting caps on how much money they will receive."

This November marks the last election in Illinois where candidates can receive uncapped campaign contributions.

A new law inked by Quinn last December will impose the state's first contribution limits starting in 2011.

[Illinois Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]