* Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) used Monday’s bill signing ceremony of a package of criminal justice reforms to issue a challenge to both political parties…

Rauner has long advocated for improving the criminal justice system, and he made an early pledge shortly after taking office that he would work to reduce the state’s prison population by 25 percent over 10 years. The first-term governor found willing allies in that cause, particularly among Chicago Democrats, and it has become one of the few areas where he can tout bipartisan efforts and accomplishments.

But it has also opened up an avenue for attack in districts where voters want a tough-on-crime approach. Take the contest in a House district in Downstate Marion that’s home to a federal penitentiary. An attack ad run by Democratic Rep. John Bradley warns voters that Republican candidate Dave Severin’s “biggest supporter wants to let 25 percent of the state’s prisoners loose into our communities.”

Cassidy chided her fellow Democrats for trying to use Rauner’s criminal justice efforts as a “political weapon.”

“Until we come to a place where a legislator or a governor doesn’t have to make a decision whether the hit that’s going to come from signing or voting on a bill is too great a risk to take…we won’t get to that just criminal justice system,” Cassidy said. “My party is running ads. I’m sure that the Republicans will be running ads this year. And I dare everybody to stop.”

* The Tribune editorial board agrees…

All of the new laws passed with bipartisan support. That’s tricky business these days, when Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on whether the sun is out.

But there’s a lot of unfinished business on the criminal justice agenda. So hear, hear for Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who urged her fellow lawmakers — Rep. Bradley, are you listening? — not to poison the bipartisan effort during their campaigns.

“My party is running ads,” she said. “I’m sure that the Republicans will be running ads this year. And I dare everybody to stop.”

We double-dare them.

Working together, Democrats and Republicans produced a batch of laws that will save taxpayers money, make communities safer and help offenders turn their lives around. There’s some momentum going now. Don’t blow it.

* The Ottawa/Streator newspaper lauded Cassidy, but isn’t exactly hopeful…

She’s absolutely correct. And she’s going to be completely ignored. Because it’s always campaign season in Illinois, and the people who run the parties have no concern greater than growing their own influence.

They’re right, of course. The hope is that this doesn’t spill over into the legislative arena.