SPRINGFIELD - A statewide reform panel report attempting to clean up Illinois government is already encountering hurdles among lawmakers. | Read the full report (PDF)

The expansive reform measure unveiled Tuesday by the Illinois Reform Commission calls for capping campaign contributions, limiting the terms of legislative leaders, expanding open meetings laws and overhauling the legislative redistricting process.

Lawmakers, who would be most affected by the changes, would have to approve most of the proposed ideas.

But some lawmakers already are doubting the commission's conclusions.

"I'm not sure if we enacted any of these reforms it would actually reform anything," said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. "It's nice to do, but need to do, I'm not so sure."

A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, expressed similar skepticism.

"I'm not sure if anyone has explained how (campaign contribution) limits would have affected the scandal of the last governor," said Steve Brown.

Quinn's optimism

Gov. Pat Quinn, who created the commission after Rod Blagojevich's Dec. 9 arrest, said he remains optimistic lawmakers will consider the reform proposals this spring but also hinted at taking the issues straight to voters on the next ballot.

"This is a moment of truth for all of us," Quinn said. "I don't want to see the hard work of the commission go unacknowledged by the General Assembly."

The commission's report calls for capping campaign contributions at $2,400 per election. They also called for limiting legislative leaders to 10-year terms and recommend adoption of Iowa's model of redistricting where a computer draws the boundaries of legislative districts instead of allowing incumbent lawmakers to divide the state up to their own benefit.

Former state Sen. Duane Noland, R-Blue Mound, served on the panel that developed the recommendations. He was among those affected by the redrawing of district lines following the 2000 census. He gave up his seat rather than challenge former Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson of Greenville for the post.

"If you're not drawn in a safe district you spend an enormous amount of time fundraising," Noland said. "It's a strange process we have in Illinois."

Committee member Sheila Simon, daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, said the proposed changes would not be difficult because so many other states already do them. For example, 45 other states put caps on campaign contributions.

"Some of it has been fairly easy because it works so well in other places," she said.

Some observers, however, aren't sure lawmakers feel pressure to act on the reforms, despite the ouster of Blagojevich and the prison term being served by former Gov. George Ryan.

Charles N. Wheeler III, who oversees a public affairs journalism program at the University of Illinois-Springfield, said the comments from legislative leaders thus far suggest the movement is not widespread enough.

"The only thing that would make them willing to change those rules was if the political pressure is great enough and that it's more risky to keep the way we know than it is to change the way we know," Wheeler said. "The less impact it has on legislators the more willing the legislators would be willing to accept the change."

More information about the proposals can be found at www.reformillinoisnow.org.