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Pantagraph EditorialFriday, April 27, 2007 12:05 AM CDT
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Clean up Illinois government; end 'pay to play'
By the Pantagraph Editorial Board
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The measure approved unanimously by the Illinois House to regulate contributions from state contractors will not rid Illinois of its "pay-to-play" reputation, but it is a welcome step forward.

House Bill 1 would prohibit anyone with more than $25,000 worth of state contracts from contributing to the campaigns of executive branch constitutional officers - including a governor - who are responsible for awarding the contract.

Anyone bidding on a contract worth more than $10,000 would have to disclose previous political contributions to the constitutional officer responsible for awarding the contract.

And, if the bidder has a total of bids or contracts valued at more than $25,000, the business could not make campaign contributions to the constitutional officer involved from the time a bid is made until the contract is awarded.

We are tired of hearing about big campaign contributors receiving state contracts.

The parties generally insist the contributions and contracts are not linked, just pure coincidence.

And perhaps they are mere coincidence - at least most of the time.

But the circumstances still look bad. And they create an impression that could lead would-be bidders to believe they have to pay - in the form of campaign donations - to "play" in the government contracts field.

That hurts Illinoisans, not only by tarnishing government but also by discouraging some businesses from bidding on state contracts.

As noted by Cynthia Canary, head of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, "So many big campaign contributors receive big state contracts that the public no longer buys the explanation that it is just a coincidence."

Some officials, such as Comptroller Dan Hynes and newly elected Treasurer Alexi Gianoulias, didn't wait for this bill.

They enacted similar prohibitions for their offices through executive orders. Good for them.

But a state law is necessary to apply restrictions to all state offices and ensure the rules don't change when another person takes office.

Oddly, the governor - who campaigned on the platform of doing away with business as usual - has not taken a position on the bill and a spokeswoman wouldn't even say whether the governor believes in the basic principal of prohibiting donations from contractors.

We hope he makes up his mind soon - in favor of the bill.

The Senate might be able to help him make up his mind by following the lead of the House and passing the bill unanimously.

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Richie wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:38 PM:

" Until the voting majority becomes smart and puts an end to this Democrat controlled government, Emil Jones, Rod Man, and Madigan will do what they want. Come on Illinois, wake up! Although George Ryan was wrong and got caught, I am not so sure our state was not better off. Rod Man will make George Ryan look like a saint!!! "

Reality_Can_Be_Hell wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:11 PM:

" I personally am starting to believe that all politicians should be brought up on charges of treason the this country. Democrats and Republicans alike. As far as this story goes you know there are crokked deals going on all time so why would anybody be surprised unless the gov does something honest for a change, but we know he wont because he hasn't as of yet. Sort of reminds me of ryan. "

Kathy wrote on Apr 28, 2007 10:36 AM:

" What businesses? I thought they all left the state! If Rod were so keen on saving money why doesn't he live in Springfield! I can't believe this goof was reelected. "

Leland Lesher wrote on Apr 27, 2007 8:29 AM:

" This is Illinois we are talking about here, Pantagraph. Only Louisianna has a worse corruption reputation nation wide. This bill will not make it past the Governor's desk, if it ever makes it that far. "
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