Tuesday, August 26, 2003

For Information: Cynthia Canary
(312) 335-1767

Statement of the Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition on The Amendatory Veto of HB 3412 (the Ethics Bill)

The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition welcomes the amendments offered by Governor Blagojevich to HB 3412, the Ethics bill. We join the Governor in calling on all members of the General Assembly to support this historic ethics legislation.

On the last day of the spring session the Illinois Senate removed key enforcement provisions including the Ethics Commissions and Inspectors General from the ethics bill. With this Amendatory Veto, Governor Blagojevich puts those provisions back on the table, and we heartily commend him for that. The legislation also contains important revolving door provisions, clarifies illegal political work on state time, toughens enforcement of campaign disclosure, and curbs political abuses of state-sponsored communications.

The Legislature will have the opportunity to consider this bill when it reconvenes for the November Veto Session. Today we call on the Illinois House and Senate to take up and pass legislation that will finally create tough and meaningful procedures for rooting out corruption in state government. The Governor¹s changes to HB 3412 do just that, and we hope that all of the Illinois elected officials will work together to put these improvements into the law books.

At long last, Illinois appears to be taking the necessary steps to move beyond its shameful legacy of scandal and corruption. We believe that this legislation will help to ensure that the citizens of this state get the ethical, honest government they deserve.