The leadership of the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Quinn are not interested in real reform.  They ignored the recommendations of the Illinois Reform Commission, and created an election and campaign finance reform bill (HB7) that does little to control the State’s rampant corruption and chronic over-spending.  Without real reform, Illinois will continue to produce corrupt politicians like George Ryan, Rod Blagojevich, and Dan Rostenkowski, while placing heavy burdens on the state’s taxpayers, an estimated $300 million per year.  If we stand by and do nothing, Illinois risks losing its legitimate businesses, its prosperity, and its competitive political environment.  Illinois will become an incumbent haven with little pressure to act on behalf of the public.

Facts

In-kind contribution loophole destroys transparency and protects incumbents
Party committees are free to give as much stuff to the candidates as they want, while individuals are strictly limited.  This includes TV ads, direct mail services, posters, and consultants.  That means candidates are more beholden to the state parties, unions, and other political entities than ever before.

Limiting independent PACs but not the parties gives insiders a huge advantage
HB 7 applies draconian limits to expenditures by independent political action committees, while allowing the state political parties to make unlimited expenditures on behalf of candidates, giving incumbents a huge unfair advantage.  Whether contributions are unlimited or limited, the rules should be the same for everyone.

Per-year caps heavily favor incumbents and lengthen the campaign season
Because the cap is restricted by year and not by election cycle, challengers will be disadvantaged if they declare their candidacy late.  This will eventually force Illinois elections into a cycle of constant campaigning.  It is not in taxpayers’ interest for it to always be campaign season.

The State Board of Elections would only investigate failure, not ensure compliance
The current bill would only give the State Board of Elections the ability to order an audit when a committee fails to file a quarterly report two times in a calendar year.  That gives the Board absolutely no power to investigate problems that may not be on the reports in the first place.  Random audits would find corruption and deter it.

The bill creates the beginnings of a welfare program for politicians
While transparency in campaign finance is vital to fighting corruption and maintaining a thriving contest of political ideas, taxpayers should not be forced to finance candidates through their tax dollars, which undercuts free speech.  It’s welfare for politicians.  Unfortunately, this bill creates the “Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force.”  The Task Force is asked to design and implement a pilot program that would fund Illinois judicial elections and the candidates through your tax dollars.

The Media is Exposing the Truth Behind This Bill:

“Incumbent Protection Act,” Belleville News-Democrat, June 3, 2009
“The state of corruption lives on,” Chicago Tribune, June 3, 2009
“Illinois politics is like a mouthful of spider,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 4, 2009
“Our Opinion: Incumbents take care of themselves,” The State Journal-Register, May 31, 2009
“Campaign caps reform hijacked in Springfield,” Crain’s Chicago Business, June 3, 2009
“Reform: How your elected officials did,” Daily Herald, June 4, 2009
“Our View: Campaign finance reform? In name only,” Peoria Journal Star, June 1, 2009