SPRINGFIELD - The Green Party gubernatorial candidate unveiled Monday his ethics package that would ban corporations or state contractors from making campaign donations.

Southern Illinois attorney Rich Whitney described Illinois politics as a "Wild West" where jobs and lucrative state contracts are traded for campaign donations.

"We believe in genuine democratic representation and government of, by and for the people, not government dominated by big money," said Whitney during a stop in Springfield. "Government should not be for sale to the highest bidder; and government is one thing that should not be corporate sponsored."

The Green Party candidate also suggests the state adopt limits on campaign contributions. Whitney suggested a limit of $500 per candidate per campaign. In Illinois, there is no limit on the amount of money individuals or groups can give to politicians.

In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed capping contributions at $2,000 per candidate blocking donations from unions and corporations. The proposal never gained traction in the General Assembly.

Whitney also wants to block contributions from state contractors and keep campaign contributors from getting lucrative work from state government.

"Contracts should be awarded on the basis of merit," Whitney said.

State treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said she would block people with contracts totaling $25,000 or more from giving money to officeholders who award the contracts. Companies bidding on state contracts worth more than $10,000 also would be required to disclose all contributions under Topinka's plan.

On the campaign trail, Blagojevich has been promoting his ethics record, which includes signing legislation creating the office of inspector general.

Whitney also used Monday's news conference to urge media outlets to allow him into any future gubernatorial debates.

"The voters deserve to hear all points of view put to the test of debate," he said.

A debate planned for Southern Illinois, which would have included Whitney, seems to have stalled after the Blagojevich campaign pulled out of a proposed Sept. 26 date and suggested an Oct. 3 date, which was unacceptable to the Topinka campaign.