Governor has things to add on ethics

Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is "filled with enthusiasm" about a reform measure sitting on his desk that would prevent state officials from taking campaign cash from most state contractors.

But he won't sign it.

Instead, he said Monday he will rewrite it and send it back to lawmakers, including yet-to-be-revealed additions.

Given extensive federal investigations amid accusations of illegal pay-to-play politics under Blagojevich -- a jury is still out on extortion and bribery charges against a key insider -- watchdog groups aren't buying it.

"He is not sincere," said David Morrsion, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, which has been pushing Blagojevich on cleaning up campaign finance for years. "He is just trying to stall and delay."

The measure garnered no opposition in the House and Senate. State Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who sponsored the bill, said he hopes the governor would just sign it into law.

If not, he says the votes are easily there to override the veto. He said any additional concerns can be addressed in other legislation.

"I think it would be more productive to take those up at a separate time," he said.

But a lot of money appears to be at stake for Blagojevich.

The governor's campaign fund, once the largest in state history, heavily relies on state contractors for donations. That war chest is now dwindling as it foots massive legal bills while federal prosecutors continue to investigate corruption allegations under Blagojevich.

Earlier this year, a Daily Herald investigation revealed that 73 percent of cash recently raised by Blagojevich came from those doing business with the state, lobbying the state or facing state regulation.

The governor insists he is not stalling but making sure the new laws will be stronger.

"I'll do positive things," Blagojevich said of his plans for the measure. "There is no question about that."