No limits on party, leadership campaign contributions

SPRINGFIELD — Political parties and legislative leaders still won’t be limited on how much money they can contribute to candidates in a general election, after reform efforts failed Wednesday.

The legislation aimed to limit contributions from parties and caucus leaders to $300,000 for statewide candidates, $175,000 for Senate hopefuls and $125,000 for House candidates.

The measure could have been a drastic change for many suburban lawmakers. For example, Elgin Sen. Michael Noland received roughly $500,000 more than the proposed limit last election from Democratic party leaders.

Supporters such as Peter Bensinger from Change Illinois said limiting direct contributions from parties would quell the perception that lawmakers who get big bucks from their leaders are then beholden to them.

But opponents of the proposal said it would do little to change campaigns because parties and leaders would still be able to spend unlimited money on behalf of a candidate as long as the hopeful and party didn’t coordinate.

Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat whose district stretches north to Rosemont, said it is better policy for a candidate to use contributed money because it makes that person accountable for their advertisements and public image.

“I don’t see how a candidate who is elected because a legislative leader spent $1.5 million in an uncoordinated fashion is more independent then a candidate who is elected because a legislative leader spent $750,000 in a coordinated fashion,” Harmon said.