SPRINGFIELD - A plan meant to prevent deep-pocketed campaign donors from getting lucrative state work was approved by House lawmakers Wednesday.

The practice is known as pay-to-play. Campaign finance reformers have targeted such conflicts of interest in light of several instances where campaign contributors later receive state contracts.

Wednesday's plan would force anyone asking a statewide executive for a contract to disclose past campaign contributions. In addition, companies with $25,000 or more in state contracts would be prohibited from giving to the officeholder they've received work from.

The House approved the measure 116-0 Wednesday, and it now moves to the Senate.

State Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, said no lawmakers opposed the plan because perceived conflicts have been prevalent lately.

"It's been a problem for a long time, let's face it," said Cultra.

In response to questions, state Rep. John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat sponsoring the plan, pointed out that the pay-to-play restrictions would only affect statewide officers, such as the governor.

"So this does not apply to you," he told lawmakers.

Statewide executives such as the governor and secretary of state handle most of Illinois' contracts. State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said a now-stalled proposal to limit political contributions could rein in millions spent on General Assembly races.

"I've always believed there ought to be limits," he said.

Two years ago, Gov. Rod Blagojevich unveiled a plan to cap campaign contributions, but hasn't done the same this year. Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff says the governor still supports limits, and hasn't made up his mind on Fritchey's plan.

"So we haven't reviewed this one," she said.

Blagojevich's office doles out most of the state's contracts as part of his job, and has been dogged by reports of alleged conflicts of interest.

"One would like to think that the governor would be as eager as anybody to get pay-to-play stories out of the newspaper," Fritchey said.

The measure received high-profile support from other statewide executives including Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, both of whom appeared on the House floor during the vote.

The legislation is House Bill 1.