BLUEPRINT FOR GOVERNMENT
AND CAMPAIGN REFORM
Press Releas: March 23, 2005 From the Illinois Reform Coalition
Strict limits on the size of campaign contributions and a ban on
contributions by corporations and labor unions led to a 9-point blueprint
of government and campaign reform proposals unveiled Wednesday by
a coalition of reform advocates.
The coalition of eight reform groups urged legislators, the Governor
and all constitutional officers to work together on a comprehensive
package of legislation that would reduce the influence of special
interest lobbies and restore the confidence of citizens in all branches
of state government.
The blueprint to guide elected leaders in negotiating reform was
issued by the Better Government Association, the Citizen Advocacy
Center, Common Cause of Illinois, the Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, the League of
Women Voters of Illinois, Protestants for the Common Good, and the
Sunshine Project.
In addition to comprehensive limits on campaign contributions and
contributors, the blueprint suggests creating a voluntary public financing
option for judicial campaigns, strengthening the power of the State
Board of Elections to enforce financial disclosure laws, increasing
the frequency of disclosure of campaign contributions, mandating disclosure
of lobbyist contracts, requiring a cooling off period before legislators
and state employees could become lobbyists after leaving government,
and creating non-partisan voters guides with information about candidates
on the ballot.
Although corporate and union contributions are prohibited in federal
elections and in most states, there has been little action in the
General Assembly to extend the ban to Illinois. Absent a total ban,
the coalition members said they would advocate restrictions on campaign
contributions by businesses that have state contracts or are regulated
by the state.
"The people of Illinois deserve honest and open government, but it's
hard to come by in the Land of Lincoln," said Kent Redfield of The
Sunshine Project. "There is no shortage of news stories about contributors
winning government contracts, the ability of contributors to kill
or pass legislation and the spectacle of a Supreme Court election
that shattered all national records for spending." "I've talked to
many good people who would make fine candidates," said Hugo Rojas,
state director of Common Cause Illinois. "But most are frightened
of the idea of having to raise so much money. Limits would level the
playing field."
"Far too many times have we seen donors pony up thousands to candidates,
and then win millions in state contracts," said Jay Stewart, executive
director of the Better Government Association. "That cycle must stop."
"Several good reform ideas have been introduced in the General Assembly
this spring, and we support many of them," said Cynthia Canary, director
of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "We want to work with
all of the sponsors and advocates from both parties and all branches
of government. And we hope they also will be willing to work together
on a comprehensive set of reforms that can become law."
The reform principles are intended to suggest areas that have earned
broad bipartisan support among legislators and executive officers.
In the coming weeks, as the legislature works toward a final package
of reform ideas, watchdog groups will measure what emerges against
these principles.
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