From the Bloomington Pantagraph:

Illinois should be ready for campaign reforms

11/3/02

In 1955, Alderman Paddy Bauler said, "Chicago ain't ready for reform." That could easily be applied to the state as a whole, judging by the reluctance of the Legislature to pass meaningful campaign reforms.

With voters upset by the licenses-for-bribes scandal and both major party candidates for governor promising ethics reform, Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, sees encouraging signs that a comprehensive reform package could be approved.

"If there was ever a time to do it, it's right now," she said.

Unfortunately, that's a big "if."

The federal licenses-for-bribes investigation, which has focused primarily on the time when Gov. George Ryan was secretary of state, has been going on for several years. Yet, the Legislature has done little during that time to address the issue.

Part of the problem is a lack of consensus on the best way to combat corruption in public office.

An example is placing limits on campaign contributions.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich favors limits on the amount individuals or organizations can contribute to campaigns. However, he hasn't said what those limits should be.

His Republican counterpart, Jim Ryan, opposes limits on contributions because it would give an advantage to millionaire candidates, who would not be limited in the amount they could give to their own campaigns.

Limits are imposed in federal campaigns and in many other states. Illinois should join them, with limits following those set for federal campaigns.

Although such limits could give millionaires an advantage, the limits also would reduce the influence one or two major contributors can have on a candidate.

Campaign activities by state employees is another area of disagreement -- and one that is central to the licenses-for-bribes scandal.

Blagojevich would bar state employees from political fund-raising during work hours. Ryan would go further and ban them from fund-raising at any time.

No matter how committed to campaign reform Ryan and Blagojevich might be, many of their proposals require legislative action.

Voters should let their lawmakers know that Illinois is ready for reform and its citizens are demanding action.