Quinn dinged for end-of-session fundraising push

With lobbyists and trade groups maneuvering to get their pet deals approved by state lawmakers before a May 31 deadline, Gov. Pat Quinn's campaign has been calling on them looking for cash.

The fundraising tactic was roundly criticized by watchdog groups Friday and Quinn quickly said it was a mistake.

Quinn said the fundraising calls were made by a campaign aide, and he denies they involved a promise of any special access to him.

The Chicago Democrat said the aide was directed to call organizations that had previously offered fundraising help, but the staffer went further and made cold calls to other groups. When asked how much they should contribute to Quinn's campaign, the aide suggested $15,000, Quinn said.

"It was a mistake," said Quinn spokesman Bob Reed. "It will not happen again. Pat Quinn never operates that way. That is just not the way he conducts himself."

Quinn and Reed denied reports that the fundraising calls included the promise of a private meeting with the governor. Reed said that Quinn "is the most accessibly governor probably in the history of Illinois and he talks to everyone all the time."

Meanwhile, the Better Government Association and Illinois Campaign for Political Reform blasted the fundraising effort.

"When you are in crunchtime - the last 10 days (of a legislative session) - and you say you can have a meeting with the governor for $15,000 ... that is just bad form," said David Lundy, the BGA's acting executive director. "It creates the inherent appearance of a conflict.

ICPR Deputy Director David Morrison said even if Quinn's campaign staffer didn't intend to put the squeeze on lobbyists and trade groups, those receiving the fundraising pitch might have felt such.

"Whatever your intention, the person getting the call can feel they are under an awful lot of pressure to go along," Morrison said. "This is a very sensitive time for those kinds of calls."

Lawmakers are now in the final stretch of the year's legislative session, which ends May 31. Legislation not approved by that date requires a supermajority vote for approval. Currently lawmakers and the governor are debating scores of critical deals involving state funding, taxes and regulation.

Quinn is also pushing major ethics reform, including campaign contribution limits. His predecessor, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is set to stand trial for allegedly trading a U.S. Senate appointment, laws and state business for campaign cash.

Lundy said he would give Quinn the "benefit of the doubt" at this point. Quinn has historically been a poor fundraiser, and he had about $82,000 in the bank at the end of 2008. His potential opponents in next year's election had millions of dollars.

Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.