From the Daily Southtown (Editorial):

Our View

Web site helps, but true ethics reform needed in Illinois

October 26, 2007

The Issue: Comptroller Dan Hynes launches Web site to shine light on campaign contribution process and needed reforms.

We say: Ethics legislation has been stymied by Senate President Emil Jones and Gov. Rod Blagojevich. It's time for them to stop playing games.

Ethics in government is a concept some politicians would rather ignore. They have forgotten that the basic precept of a democracy is that government exists for the people. The politicians too often would rather believe government exists for themselves and their cronies. They find nothing wrong with shutting the public out of government meetings or urging businessmen to make campaign contributions if they want government business.

Illinois has rightly been saddled with the notorious reputation that our government is for sale, that ours is a pay-to-play state.

State Comptroller Dan Hynes is trying to put a spotlight on that problem, and he's working to fix it. Putting a spotlight on the problem is something Hynes can do single-handedly. Fixing the problem requires help from other state leaders, and some of them are reluctant to lend their support because it would mean a change in the way things have been for them and their pals for years.

First, the spotlight: Hynes this week unveiled a tool that will help citizens get a better glimpse at how the process works. A new Web site created by Hynes' office will provide citizens with an easier way to see which political campaign contributors also have state contracts.

The so-called "Open Book" site can be found at www.OpenBook.ioc.state.il.us. There also is a link to the site from the comptroller's site: www.illinoiscomptroller.com.

The information on Open Book was available in various forms in the past, but Hynes has created a database that combines the pertinent information and makes it easier to inquire about political contributions and state contracts. As Hynes said, "The purpose of Open Book is to make it much easier for the public to 'follow the money.' "

After accessing the site, citizens merely need to type in the name of a contract holder or contributor. The site then will display any matches between contributors and state contracts. It also will list names of employees of contractors who have made individual campaign contributions.

While most of the contributions violate no laws, the site does allow citizens to see which firms getting state business also are sweetening the coffers of our elected officials.

Many people, including Hynes, want to see those pay-to-play arrangements curtailed. He used the Web site launch to renew his call for stricter ethics legislation. A bill he helped craft would prohibit businesses and individuals who hold at least $25,000 in state contracts from making contributions to the officeholders who awarded them the contracts. It also would place other restrictions on contributors.

The bill isn't perfect, but it's a start at removing the stench that permeates the Capitol. The House agreed and unanimously approved the bill in April. But the bill still hasn't come up for a vote in the Senate, despite having 46 sponsors. It's no mystery why Senate President Emil Jones won't call the bill. He doesn't want to change the way things are. And Gov. Rod Blagojevich isn't pressuring him to change his mind. He likes the way things are, too. The two have hidden behind a pledge to produce a stronger ethics package, but such a package is nowhere in sight.

With those two obstructionists providing too big a barrier, Illinois will continue to have its pay-to-play reputation. And true government of the people will continue to be a pipe dream unless all of us demand that things change. It's a tall order, but one for which we must continue to fight.