Gov. Pat Quinn should veto House Bill 7, the sham "reform" bill that would limit campaign contributions in a way that would maintain, if not increase, the power of party leaders and incumbents.

The bill mocks the efforts of the Illinois Reform Commission and a coalition of reform groups calling themselves Change Illinois.

Rather than patterning itself after federal election laws, HB 7 has higher contribution limits and bases them on a calendar year instead of an election cycle.

Proposals backed by Change Illinois would have limited contributions to individual candidates by legislative leadership PACs to $30,000 per election cycle. HB 7 permits legislative leaders to contribute $90,000 per year.

And with limits on other contributions, even the paltry limits of HB 7, contributions from legislative leaders would gain even greater leverage.

Not just legislative leaders but any other candidate's committee could transfer up to $90,000 to another candidate's committee.

This isn't reform; it's more politics as usual.

Illinois can and must do better if the state wants to end corruption and undue influence from big money players.

Call Gov. Quinn's office at (217) 782-6830 or use the e-mail form on his Web site: www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm

Tell him you want real campaign reform. Tell him to veto this bill.

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