Reform Community Denounces Political Games

For Immediate Release:
Monday, September 8, 2008

For More Information:

Cindi Canary, ICPR
312-335-1767
Brian Imus, Illinois PIRG
312-364-0096

Reform Community Denounces Political Games

Calls for Veto Overrides

CHICAGO – In an open letter to state legislators, eight government reform organizations have asked the General Assembly to reject Governor Blagojevich’s recent amendatory vetoes of House Bill 824 and Senate Bill 1920.
If the vetoes are overridden, the bills will be enacted as they passed the General Assembly this spring. HB 824 would help end pay-to-play politics in Illinois, and SB 1920 would provide greater disclosure of the funding of ballot measures.

The public wants an end to gridlock in Springfield and overriding these vetoes will help to counter the political games that have plagued the legislative process from the beginning. “The public wants ethics reform,” said ICPR Director Cindi Canary. “The amendatory vetoes are just maneuvers designed to undermine or kill reform that is depriving the citizens of Illinois of the good government they deserve.”
“Despite the unanimous vote in support of these reform bills in the General Assembly, Governor Blagojevich has issued amendatory vetoes putting some good legislation in jeopardy,” said Brian Imus of Illinois PIRG. “We call on the General Assembly to put the public’s interest first and override the Governors vetoes.”

Reform groups issuing the letters included the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Illinois PIRG, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Illinois Common Cause, the Citizen Advocacy Center, The Sunshine Project, the Better Government Association and Protestants for the Common Good.

A copy of the letter and additional information about the vetoes are available at www.ilcampaign.org.

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