Let's shine light on ethics reform

In July 2007, I wrote a letter to Illinois Senator Barack Obama asking him to personally intercede in the business of the General Assembly on the matter of ethics. In that letter I urged Senator Obama to make a simple five-minute phone call to his friend and mentor, Senate President Emil Jones.

Knowing Senator Obama's interest in ethics reforms related to responsible contracting in state government I had hoped he would respond to my request in a timely fashion. However, a year and three months passed before he took action, doing so only after pressure from the media mounted following the Illinois House override of the Governor's veto of HB 824, which restricts the campaign dollars constitutional officeholders can accept.

Surely we can do more to foster sunshine and transparency in Illinois government. Senate Republicans and government watchdogs like Cynthia Canary (executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform) have been sounding the clarion call for ethics in government for several years now.

Over the last two years, we repeatedly asked that HB 1, which would prohibit campaign contributions from state contractors to officeholders if the officeholder has authority over the entity awarding the contract, be brought to the light of day in the Senate chamber, only to be repeatedly denied a vote by Jones and Senate Democrats.

It is serendipitous that Senator Obama is running for president and is able to shine a spotlight on ethics reforms in our state, but there is more to be done. The General Assembly should enact comprehensive reforms, not piecemeal changes. While we have the attention of Obama, Jones and Governor Blagojevich, let's seize this opportunity to pass a responsible contracting measure that cracks down on "sole-source" and other no-bid contract abuses and, while we're at it, why not require online posting of contract details?

Christine Radogno

Deputy Leader

Illinois Senate Republicans

Lemont