Reform campaign finance, term length

Meaningful campaign finance reform requires support for the reform commission recommendations.

Legislators will be more inclined to take the tough votes that are needed from time to time to be responsive to their constituents if the respective party leadership had some reasonable limits on the amount of money that could be given out.

This should be followed up with a constitutional amendment to lengthen terms of reps from two to four years so they would not be running again and need to be fundraising from the day they get elected.

Changing the term would also be campaign finance reform since it would cut down on need for constant fundraising. Similarly, since another election would not be around the corner, the Reps would also be able to be more independent in their voting.

Write your reps to encourage stronger campaign finance reform and to urge constitutional amendment to change terms. I agree that Speaker Madigan has done many admirable things as a leader and so has President Cullerton in his short time in office, but this is a time for much needed change in the campaign finance arena. Let's get it done!

Village President Elliott Hartstein

Buffalo Grove

Hartstein is a Democratic candidate for state representative in the 59th District.