From the Chicago Tribune
State targets 'pay to play'
Ethics bill aims to clean up campaign funding
By Ray Long and Jeffrey Meitrodt
Tribune reporters
April 30, 2008
SPRINGFIELD
With Illinois' previous governor imprisoned for corruption and the current one
engulfed by a top fundraiser's influence-peddling trial, lawmakers Wednesday
took a tentative step toward barring companies that want state business from
showering politicians with campaign cash.
Key proponents, weary of Illinois' national reputation for "pay-to-play"
politics, announced they've reached a compromise to ban those who get or even
seek major state contracts from making political donations.
Some supporters cited the maelstrom surrounding Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich
as providing the public pressure needed to push lawmakers to act after reforms
have stalled for years.
"For many years, Illinois has been the Wild West of campaign finance, of
ethics. It is time we rein it in," said Rep. Lou Lang (D- Skokie). "This
whole long history, our inability to get together and decide what's right and
what's wrong when so much of it is right in front of our face as a legislature
speaks volumes about why this needs to happen."
The renewed effort aimed at ending Illinois' pay-to-play culture comes days
after a Tribune examination revealed Blagojevich received 235 contributions
of exactly $25,000. Most of the donors got something from the administration,
whether it was contracts, appointments on boards, or favorable policy or regulatory
action.
Aides in the governor's office and his campaign team maintained the administration
makes decisions based on merit, and that contributors give because they back
Blagojevich's goals, such as affordable health care and job creation. On Wednesday,
Blagojevich's office said it would review the legislation before commenting.
The Tribune analysis underscored the troubling idea "that the awarding
of contracts may have more to do with who you know and who you've contributed
to than your ability to supply goods and services of the best quality and best
price," said Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform and a leading proponent of what she called "landmark" legislation.
The measure's centerpiece is a ban on political contributions from people or
businesses that hold or seek at least $50,000 in state work from an official
who oversees the contract.
Democratic Comptroller Dan Hynes, a longtime proponent of putting the ban into
law, said the new legislation "goes to the very heart of the most troubling
aspect of campaign finance, and that is the idea that people can get state contracts
and an hour later or a day later write a $100,000 check to the person that gave
them that contract. That ends when this legislation becomes law."
Whether the legislation ever would become law is the vexing question that's
lingered in Springfield since Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) got the House to
approve a similar measure, one that's languished in the Senate for more than
a year.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) supports the new proposal, according
to his spokesman, along with Fritchey, who helped forge the new compromise and
predicted House passage.
"There's a good chance that it may be snowing in hell right now because
a lot of people didn't expect this to happen," said Fritchey, adding that
few lawmakers gave the measure a chance when he introduced it three years ago.
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D- Crete) vowed to make sure the new
measure will pass in her chamber, where it could be considered as soon as next
week.
But lawmakers also said they are prepared to fight Blagojevich should he decide
to veto the bill outright or make changes they would need to approve before
the measure would become law. Halvorson, who is running in a congressional race
where Republicans have tied her to Blagojevich, contended the Senate would override
the governor if he makes changes.
The legislation would take effect Jan. 1, giving Blagojevich several months
to collect campaign contributions from existing state contractors. It does not
cover state lawmakers, who could keep building campaign funds with the help
of state contractors.
Fritchey offered a blunt explanation: "We have not been engaged in or accused
of selling state contracts."
Former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, is in federal prison in Indiana, convicted
of corruption charges in a federal probe where his campaign fund became the
first in the nation's history found guilty of racketeering.
Three years ago, Blagojevich vowed to "rock the system" with sweeping
reforms to impose tough limits on donations, but he has done little to advance
the proposal.
Since then, the Tribune has reported Blagojevich's campaign fund has been subpoenaed
by federal authorities.
At the federal corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, one of Blagojevich's
fundraisers, testimony emerged linking the governor himself to efforts to trade
contracts for campaign assistance. Blagojevich has denied the allegations, saying
his administration does not do business that way.
Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), a co-sponsor of the new legislation, cautioned
it should not be "viewed as the only thing we need to do" because
more reforms are needed. She cited a measure to curtail ways the governor's
office can get around competitive bidding on contracts.
If the legislation passes, Illinois would be one of the few places in the country
where it is illegal for state contractors to donate to statewide officials.
Seven states have pay-to-play laws on the books, but most are unenforceable
because there is no way to catch violators, according to campaign finance expert
Craig Holman, a lobbyist with the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen in
Washington, D.C.
Tribune reporter Ashley Wiehle contributed to this report.
rlong@tribune.com
jmeitrodt@tribune.com
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune