Ill. Senate: Limit cash for politics

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate signed off on a compromise Friday that would establish Illinois’ first limits on campaign donations, sending it to the governor despite complaints that the bill concentrated power in the hands of political insiders.

The bill would cap money that people, interest groups and political committees can give to candidates.

The goal is to end worries that donors who give $10,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 are buying themselves special treatment from elected officials.

The caps have one major exception. Political parties and legislative leaders would face limits during primary elections but would be able to give unlimited amounts to candidates during the general election.

Critics said that would mean that candidates would be more dependent on winning the favor of someone like House Speaker Michael Madigan, who leads House Democrats and chairs the Illinois Democratic Party. A lawmaker who wants Madigan’s financial help might feel intense pressure to follow his instructions in the Legislature.

“What you are asking us to do is give away our independence, give away our independence to the leaders,” said Sen. Mike Jacobs of East Moline, one of the few Democrats to criticize the measure.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, said he looked forward to signing the “excellent” bill. He praised it as a historic step for a state that, historically, has had an anything-goes attitude toward political money.

Government watchdog groups agreed to support the measure, despite the loophole for party leaders, after weeks of negotiations with Democratic leaders. They concluded that it was the best deal they could get.

Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said voters should see it as a step toward repairing the damage done by two consecutive scandals involving Illinois governors.

“Their confidence in state government has been eviscerated,” Canary said. “This should be part of a rebuilding process.”

Former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, is in prison. His successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich, was booted out of office in January after being arrested on federal corruption charges.

The measure, one of the highest-profile ethics proposals to follow Blagojevich’s impeachment, passed, 36-22. The House approved it late Thursday night.

Illinois law places no cap at all on political contributions. The measure would limit candidates to taking $5,000 from individuals, $10,000 from unions, businesses and interest groups, and $50,000 from political action committees during each election cycle.

Groups such as the Campaign for Political Reform and CHANGE Illinois also wanted to limit donations from political parties and the four legislative leaders. Republican leaders agreed.

But Democratic leaders objected, wanting political parties and top legislators to continue being able to give unlimited amounts.

Sen. Don Harmon, a key negotiator for Senate Democrats, defended the compromise of limiting the leaders’ donations during primary elections but not general elections.

He argued that primaries were when insiders might potentially punish rebellious lawmakers by supporting a rival. They would not back someone from the other party in a general election, Harmon said.

The measure also would require quick, year-round disclosure when candidates accept $1,000 or more, would give the State Board of Elections new enforcement authority, and would set up a task force to recommend more ways to strengthen campaign finance laws.

“A vote against this is a vote against transparency. A vote against this is a vote against accountability,” said Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge.

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