It's time Democrats push to vote on party limits
State legislators are in the midst of enjoying a two-week spring break. Now may be a perfect time to call, write or stop them at the store to tell them to push more ethics changes.
In particular, suburban Democrats ought to be standing up to push for proposals to limit what powerful legislative leaders and political party committees can give to candidates in general elections. Every other giver, except leaders and committees, will be limited next year. The attempt to close this key loophole deserves debate and a vote.
Democrats are central to the effort to secure a vote because both the Illinois House and Senate are controlled by Democratic majorities.
So we especially thank suburban state Rep. Karen May, a Highland Park Democrat, for introducing in February a proposal to limit political party and caucus leader contributions to general election funds. Thanks, too, to Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo for joining as a co-sponsor with Republicans Elizabeth Coulson of Glenview and Sidney Mathias of Buffalo Grove.
In the Senate, Chicago Democrat Heather Steans introduced a similar plan, and suburban Democrats Michael Noland of Elgin and Susan Garrett of Lake Forest have signed on as co-sponsors.
These bills are languishing in committee because the leaders don't want them. So where are the rest of the suburban Democrats who should be jumping up and jumping on as co-sponsors? They must pressure House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton to allow for floor debates and votes on these bills.
Democratic state Reps. Julie Hamos of Wilmette and Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook, you were among a group last year who voted to try to get a limits bill out of its rules-committee prison. Won't you help again?
Democratic state Rep. Carol Sente of Vernon Hills, it's time to push. You've never run in a general election before, and Madigan would like to keep your seat in the Democrats' column. You might never have as much influence with him as you do now.
Asked about capping contributions on party leaders in the Daily Herald's candidate questionnaire before the primary, you said, limits on leaders and parties in primaries was "a major step forward; I would like to find a way to extend those limits to general election campaigns."
Representative, it's time to sign on and pressure the speaker.
State Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, your lieutenant governor questionnaire for us says, "I believe that these limits and caps on contributions should be extended to include legislative leaders, creating a more open and honest dialogue." Senator, we're counting on you to push for that dialogue and a vote.
We call on all of you to join on as co-sponsors, work your colleagues in the suburbs and all over the state and pressure your leaders to allow for a vote.
We call on Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and his lieutenant governor candidate Sheila Simon, a member of the reform commission Quinn created to push corruption fixes, to step up and apply the pressure now.
What's to fear in letting legislators cast votes and share their views? Voters deserve to know where every one of our elected officials stands on capping leader and committee contributions. We deserve to know now, before we vote in the November general election and before the limits on everyone else kick in next year.
We're asking all of you. Please lead. Get the bills out of committee and to the floor for discussion and votes. Please, be courageous.