Don't waste redo on campaign finance reform

Excuse us if our heads are spinning and our stomachs are churning just a bit.

We remember vividly on May 28 when Gov. Pat Quinn turned his back on his own Illinois Reform Commission and endorsed a campaign finance reform plan that had more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

He called it "landmark" legislation then, adding, "I think it's the best we can do at this time."

Nearly three months later, Quinn corrected his mistake and vetoed that "landmark" plan, saying it was important to get this right.

Gov. Quinn, thank you for listening to reform advocates and the people who crave and deserve a real fix to an awful system.

In this case, we supported a veto and agree wholeheartedly we must do better. But Quinn's success, and the success of Democratic House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, and every single legislator now will be judged on whether they do get it right and get it done in just a few short weeks.

"It is imperative that we come up with our very best effort," Quinn said Thursday.

We're watching and waiting.

Reform activists say the plan now is to have a new campaign finance proposal in time for all of us to analyze it and for it to be called for a vote in the veto session that starts in about six weeks on Oct. 14.

Right now, we have nothing. And that is untenable.

Our public servants would do well to follow the public sentiment on this one.

Start by going back to the ideas from the reform commission. Apply the federal model that limits individuals to giving $2,400 per election, or a total of $4,800 for a primary and general election. Limit PACs and all other players too. Include real limits on the amounts that can be transferred from political committees to candidates.

Yes, that means restricting Madigan's power and Cullerton's power and the power of Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Tom Cross.

The outsiders who volunteered their time on the reform commission suggested a $30,000 limit per election for a transfer from a political committee, or $60,000 for primary and general elections. Those are restrictions.

The next plan also must include limits on the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services made to candidates.

We must have real-time reporting of contributions so we all know when someone is funneling money into a candidate's campaign before we vote.

We need a state board of elections that has the power and independence to truly investigate, subpoena and audit; the power to hand down true financial penalties to those who would skirt the law and game the system.

Anything short of all that simply will be unacceptable.

Quinn, Cullerton and Madigan weren't offering any hints on what they might agree to Thursday. That makes our stomachs churn.

Our public servants have six weeks to try again. We all must demand they do get it right, now.

<div style="float:left;margin:6px 9px 6px 0px;"> <img src="/graphics/corruptionlogo.jpg" width="300" height="160" border="0"></a></p> </div> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=292269">How to contact your lawmakers</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=317156">Don't waste redo on campaign finance reform <span class="date">[08/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=293839">Good ideas, limits help democracy <span class="date">[05/15/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=292278">Fed up with graft? You're obligated to weigh in <span class="date">[05/11/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=290368">It's time to call for the change Illinois needs <span class="date">[05/01/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=288715">A better way to watch our tax money <span class="date">[04/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=287658">Rank projects before spending our tax money <span class="date">[04/20/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=287077">Limiting contributions a good start <span class="date">[04/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>