Holding Reform Hostage
Cullerton's double-play
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John Cullerton: Holding reform hostage.
Fearing that Gov. Pat Quinn might actually veto recently passed campaign reform legislation that reformers say isn't reform at all, state Senate President John Cullerton is holding hostage Quinn's measure to allow citizens to recall governors.
This is the sort of every day horse-trading that goes on, well, every day, all across America.
But is it really any way to govern?
Shouldn't measures rise and fall on their own accord?
Isn't Cullerton's behavior reminiscent of, well, a child?
"A spokesperson for Quinn has said the governor has not yet received the campaign finance bill from the legislature, and says no final decision's been made on whether to sign it," WBEZ reports. "The plan sets donation limits for state elections for the first time, but it's been panned by reform advocates, who say it's weak, full of loopholes and potentially unconstitutional."
So, to review, Cullerton is using a real reform measure as a cudgel to pass a fake reform measure.
And in the end, Cullerton & Co. could just as easily dunk the real reform measure, too.
"Extortion in the name of ethics reform - Only in Illinois!" says Capitol Fax commenter Chicago Cynic. "And now maybe those who doubt reformers, when we tell you HB7 is bogus reform that only protects incumbents, will listen."
Steve Rhodes is the proprietor of The Beachwood Reporter, a Chicago-centric news and culture review.
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Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 2:31 AM CST
