Our challenge: Don't wait for a law

You don't need a rule to know right from wrong. Sometimes you just know, and you do what's right. It's a message we have all either delivered as parents or received as kids.

We offer those same words to candidates gearing up for February's primary. Depending on the office sought, many enter this election season without limits on contributions.

Reform is Illinois' buzzword of 2009. Yet, the legislature shamefully left Springfield last spring with few achievements. State lawmakers this month will have a chance to change this. We have previously used this space to support a fix.

Today, we urge a different kind of action. We challenge candidates to hold themselves to a higher standard. You don't have to wait for the law to change to follow Illinois Reform Commission recommendations to apply the federal model that limits individuals to giving $2,400 per election, limits Political Action Committee gifts and caps transfers from political committees.

Just about every incumbent suburban state lawmaker told us they backed these limits. Every challenger likely will promise to support campaign finance reform, too. How could they not?

DuPage County Board chairman candidate Debra Olson proposed bans on contributions from vendors with $15,000 or more in contracts and other limits for candidates seeking county office. She promised, "I'm going to stick to this."

We like Olson's initiative, we encourage her to keep her pledge, and we challenge her to give back money in her coffers that might violate it.

We also believe her promise could have an interesting impact on this race.

Two other hopefuls, state Sens. Dan Cronin and Carole Pankau told us this week they're also open to voluntarily following reforms they have supported, those from the Reform Commission.

"From a competitive standpoint, I'd like everyone to do it," admits Cronin, who notes he co-sponsored reform measures. "I wouldn't put my name to it if I couldn't follow it."

Pankau, critical of Olson's proposal, refused to be interviewed. She issued a written statement that said, "We need to have a conversation, not a series of news releases and political stunts." Later, through her campaign manager, she said she would be willing to voluntarily follow the reforms she's supported as a state senator.

When one steps up, others feel the pressure.

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso says he hasn't started fundraising and hasn't set guidelines yet.

We agree with Cronin that reforms need to be addressed and need the strength of state law. Self-policing doesn't work, especially in Illinois where campaign fundraising was central to the downfall of two recent governors.

But, in the absence of reforms, we urge candidates to make their first campaign pledge a promise to follow the campaign finance reforms recommended by the Illinois Reform Commission.

For Republicans who claim to be powerless in a state controlled by Democrats, this is your chance to reclaim power.

Don't wait for the law to tell you what to do. Show the voters you know what's right.

<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=327227">Our challenge: Don't wait for a law <span class="date">[10/08/09]</span></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>