Putting limits on donations made by individuals, parties, corporations and political action committees to political campaigns may not end corruption in Illinois.

But it would be a good start.

Likewise, limiting - if not eliminating - contributions from companies receiving state contracts would be a good step toward ending "pay-for-play" politics in Illinois.

A state with a former governor convicted of corruption and federal investigators looking into the current governor's hiring practices should be more committed to cleaning up corruption.

And its residents should be more demanding.

2007 is an excellent opportunity to get the ball rolling. Statewide elections for governor and other constitutional officers have just ended, and campaign financing issues are fresh in people's minds.

We shouldn't wait for another indictment or conviction of a high official to take actions that should have been done long ago.

The federal government has limited campaign contributions since the 1970s.

Most states have limits, too.

Illinois is among only five allowing unlimited corporate and union contributions. It is among only 13 states allowing unlimited contributions from individuals. In fact, 22 states prohibit all corporate and union political campaign contributions, as does the federal government.

Illinois should pass contribution limits that mirror those at the federal level.

Under the federal law, individuals can give up to $2,100 to a candidate, $5,000 to a political action committee and $26,700 to a political party committee.

Government contractors cannot contribute to federal candidates.

In Illinois, our individual state office holders - except the governor - have imposed restrictions on themselves.

One of the first acts of newly sworn-in Treasurer Alexi Gianoulias was to issue an executive order prohibiting his campaign fund from accepting contributions from office employees, banks and contractors doing business with the treasurer's office.

Comptroller Dan Hynes does not accept campaign contributions from contractors that do more than $25,000 in business with the state or $10,000 with his office.

Similar policies have been instituted by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Secretary of State Jesse White.

We commend Gianoulias, Hynes, Madigan and White for their actions. But their executive orders are no substitute for meaningful campaign finance reform in Illinois.

The time is ripe for reform.