* David Ormsby makes an interesting point at the end of his post about the Senate Democrats’ recent blogger conference call on ethics…

Finally, [Sen. Don Harmon] reminded the bloggers [that] for all the editorial commentary criticizing the legislature on ethics there has been no lawmaker subject to FBI inquiry or subpoena or taint from the Blagojevich scandals.

What Harmon left unsaid was that a certain Chicago newspaper critical of the legislature can make no similar claim.

There has been taint, but that “unsaid” observation was priceless.

* Illinois reform commission chairman Patrick Columns pens an op-ed…

While some people have taken issue with some of the proposals, the harshest critics have said the commission members are neophytes who don’t understand the “sausagemaking” process of Springfield. In effect, they are saying that even though our state is a regular segment on “Saturday Night Live,” we shouldn’t expect anything meaningful to occur in Springfield.

From corruption victim Scott Willis to Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, from former investigative reporter Hanke Gratteau to corporate whistle-blower Pam Davis and the rest of our team, we are not neophytes. We understand far too well the sausagemaking syndrome.

Actually, the harshest critics have said that Collins has relied too heavily on confrontational black hat/white hat arguments. One, a likely GOP gubernatorial candidate, has claimed he was overly partisan. Others have posited that since Rod Blagojevich proposed pretty much the same campaign finance reform laws, he must’ve already figured out how to get around them.

* The News-Gazette runs a story which inadvertently illuminates the sausage-making process…

llinois is about to get reform, but probably nothing close to what was recommended last month by a commission appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn.

“I think they’ll try to do a soft package of reforms,” said state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. “But I don’t think the public will put up with that. The newspapers aren’t going to let this go away, and they shouldn’t.”

But later…

But even Black doesn’t buy into all of the commission’s ideas. He and other lawmakers aren’t enthusiastic about campaign contribution limits.

“I have a problems with the freedom-of-speech issue,” he said. “If someone could use their own money and blow you out of the water as you’re trying to raise the money in $2,400 increments, you’re at a disadvantage. It’s an incumbency protection plan.”

* Meanwhile, the Daily Herald has posted Speaker Madigan’s responses to its reform survey. I’ve added House GOP Leader Tom Cross’s responses after Madigan’s for comparative purposes…

1. Should there be limits on how much individuals, businesses, unions, lobbyists and others can give to candidates?
Madigan: Undecided Cross: Yes

2. Should there be a state-contracting czar overseeing all procurement independent of the governor and lawmakers?
Madigan: No answer. Cross: Yes

3. Should the attorney general and local prosecutors be given powers akin to the U.S. attorney to investigate corruption?
Madigan: No Cross: No

4. Would you support limiting how long a legislative leader can serve in the leadership post?
Madigan: No Cross: No

5. Would you vote to do away with the current redistricting process and replace it with a nonpartisan system?
Madigan: No Cross: Yes

6. Should the state freedom of information laws be rewritten to include penalties for those who intentionally violate them?
Madigan: Yes Cross: Yes

7. Should the state reduce the number of political jobs?
Madigan: No Cross: Yes

8. Should the primary be moved to June?
Madigan: No. Cross: Yes

* Related…

* Harold Krent: Madigan’s plan far oversteps legislative bounds

* Make it easier for Illinois to fight corruption

* Former county state’s attorney’s license suspended

* Public info law could be strengthened

* An open and shut issue: Make public data public