Governor Pat Quinn marked the anniversary of Rod Blagojevich’s arrest by signing into law Illinois’ first-ever campaign-contribution limits.
"This isn't the end but the beginning as we reform Illinois," Quinn said. "We all know what day this is, it is a sad day."
The reforms were inspired by the scandal surrounding Blagojevich, who was arrested last Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges and later impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives and removed from office by the Illinois Senate.
Blagojevich, who made a public appearance Tuesday at the University of Chicago bookstore for a book-signing of his recently released memoir, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial next summer.
The new law sets limits on how much money people, interest groups and political action committees can give to candidates.
But the law has a loophole that’s made some people unhappy: It would only cap what political parties and legislative leaders can give to candidates in primaries — but not in general elections.
Those limits have drawn criticism that the law could leave candidates too beholden to political bosses.
