We need some examples of courage
Yes, another week has slipped by with no progress on limiting the campaign donations legislative leaders and parties can give to candidates.
We have one week left to achieve the right thing. Legislators meet next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Then it's time for many of them to get busier trying to win election.
Incumbents who fail to stand up for limits on leaders and parties will have a much harder time winning our support. It's the only right and fair thing to do while also limiting donations from people, unions, corporations and political action committees.
We understand how difficult this is for the Democratic majority. House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton wield tremendous power already over their members. We've seen it happen. The leaders can make work painful for people who don't fall in line. They can take away plum committee chairmanships and assignments. They can withhold campaign cash and workers. They can take away assistants and good parking spaces.
We get all that, but, suburban Democrats, your leaders need you, too. It would be tough for them to find a good candidate to replace you now with filing starting Monday. And if they don't help you in this election, they risk losing that seat and possibly the majority from which they derive much of their power.
There comes a time to take a chance. There comes a time to take a stand. This is that time.
Those of you who will face especially tight races need to stand and deliver now. State Rep. Mark Walker of Arlington Heights, you are vulnerable as a freshman. And so are you, state Rep. Keith Farnham of Elgin. And you weren't even elected yet, state Rep. Carol Sente of Vernon Hills. State Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo, you've spoken up before, along with state Rep. Karen May of Highland Park and state Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook. State Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park sure should want to get rid of the memory of that bad campaign finance plan of his the governor vetoed. And state Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest has spoken up before too. Certainly, state Rep. Julie Hamos of Evanston has too, and now she wants many suburban residents to support her bid for Congress in the 10th District.
Have you all talked to your leaders about limiting themselves and party donations? Will you continue to push and offer a profile in courage? If all of you would come together and stand together, then perhaps the rest of the suburban Democrats would join you, and so might your city and downstate colleagues. Maybe the too-quiet Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn would chime in again and threaten another veto?
There is strength in numbers and strength in doing what's right. Dream big. Speak up for limits on leaders and parties. Stand tall, stand together. Get it done.
<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>Contacts</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="/story/?id=329206">Contact information for suburban Democrats</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=292269">How to contact your lawmakers</a></li> </ul> <h2>Editorials</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=329213">Contact suburban Democrats now <span class="date">[10/16/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=327535">Demand tightening of money spigot <span class="date">[10/09/09]</span></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>