Herald ignores lack of reform in DuPage

The Dec. 12 Daily Herald editorial on a "to-do list" seems, once again, seems to be the same partisan attacks we are used to seeing from this paper. For some time, the Daily Herald has ignored (they must know what's going on) the lack of reform right here in River City, I mean DuPage.

In DuPage County, under the one party rule, there has been only one attempt, by Deb Olson, to change campaign finance. There are no limits on how much a candidate may raise and no limits on spending. Oddly, two of the candidates for county chairman, state Senators Dan Cronin and Carole Pankau, voted against the law recently signed by Gov. Pat Quinn that establishes limits. I assume their argument will be, "It wasn't enough."

However, neither of them has joined Olson to propose "voluntary" limits on campaign spending. Why? Olson's proposal, while not perfect, is a start. Add provisions that limits what individuals may give their own campaigns, limit total spending, and we would have a better plan. The Herald has ignored arguing for DuPage County that which it argues for Illinois. There are no term limits, no caps on campaign contributions, no "independent" commission free of political influence and no budget solutions except to raise taxes.

Recall Bob Schillerstrom's move to raise our sales tax to plug the $40 million deficit. And now we have $19 million suddenly missing from the water commission's wallet and a request for $60 million more. The Herald needs to be "fair and slightly balanced" by calling on the Republican leaders and candidates to practice what they preach. Let's call for all candidates, Democrat and Republicans, to voluntarily agree to campaign limits. And, if they don't, they shouldn't get the endorsement of the same newspaper that argues for this type of reform.

Bob Peickert

Chairman, Democratic Party of DuPage County

Lombard