Big problem with ethics bill?
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Is there a constitutional problem with the “ethics” bill? Chicago Public Radio takes a look…
Paul Ryan, Campaign Legal Center: There’s one provision of the bill that seemingly applies a contribution limit to a political committee organized to support or oppose one or more questions of public policy, which, I’m interpreting as meaning a committee formed to support or oppose a ballot measure in the state.
Ballot questions, Ryan points out, cannot be held to contribution limits. Or, so said the Supreme Court almost 30 years ago. Ryan says there’s a reason it’s alright to limit donations to politicians but not to committees working on ballot questions.
RYAN: Unlimited contributions to candidates and officeholders could corrupt those individuals, potentially. By contrast, in the ballot measure context, there are no human beings who can be corrupted by the contributions.
The sponsor of Illinois’ bill says changes can be made if need be.
* Greg Hinz looks at the failure of a payday loan regulation…
In these days when “reform” supposedly is the mantra in Springfield, business as usual continues, well, as usual. The only thing that’s surprising is the sheer audacity of the players.
A prime example is what didn’t happen late last month on a bill to put more limits on the payday loan guys. You know, the good folks who say they’ll lose their shirts helping worthy citizens if they can’t charge interest rates of 300% or 400%.
The bill, a top priority for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, got a grand total of one vote in the Illinois House committee in which it had been dumped. Yes, one vote. Neither House Speaker Michael Madigan (Lisa’s dad) nor anyone else offset the squads of connected lobbyists who pulled strings to kill the bill — and likely will pull out their checkbooks again when lawmakers are raising cash for their next campaign.
Ah . . . the sweet smell of reform!
* My favorite “ethics” story this year…
It looks like the University of Illinois dropped the ball — and violated the spirit of the law — when redacting public documents connected to its shadow admission process for well-connected students.
In records released last week, U. of I. officials blacked out Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo’s name in an e-mail discussion about one of his Hall of Fame snubs. […]
The e-mail is dated March 2, 2005, the day Santo failed in another bid to enter Cooperstown. U. of I. spokesman Tom Hardy said the employee handling the redactions didn’t know who Santo was and assumed he was a rejected student.
“I know it may surprise the Tribune and die-hard Cubs fans, but Ron Santo is apparently not a household name,” Hardy said.
Quite the comeback. Now, if Hardy would only answer my question about any attempts by “landmark” Tribune employees to clout kids into the U of I…
* And Chris Kelly’s lawyer has a point about some of the charges against his client. Kelly pleaded guilty to moving huge amounts of money around to conceal payments to a Kankakee bookie, but the feds have shown no interest in the bookie…
[Michael Monico] noted the bookie in the case never has been prosecuted and the matter hasn’t been referred to state prosecutors either.
“Because it’s unimportant to the government,” he said.
Strange, that. They’ve got a major illegal gambling enterprise and no criminal referrals?
* Related…
* U of I president refuses to release UIS coach records
* Lawsuit on Blagojevich’s health-care plan settled
* Blago’s politics all in day’s work
* News media urge court to unseal Blago wiretaps
* More Legal Troubles for Blagojevich Fundraiser
- Bill - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:47 am:
==but Ron Santo is apparently not a household name,” ==
Ron who? Oh wait, wasn’t he that old guy with the bad wheels who played 3rd for the White Sox in 1974? No field-no hit if I remember correctly. I never could figure out how he made the team.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:52 am:
I don’t think any kind of clout could have gotten Santo in the U of I.
My favorite Santoism was when he and Pat had Bill Kurtis on during the stretch. Ronnie was asking Bill about one of his cable shows on the JFK assassination.
Ronnie said: “It was very interesting, and I just want to say, the assassination of President Kennedy was not only a sad day for baseball, but for America, too.”
Almost drove in the ditch.
- siriusly - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:52 am:
I cannot fathom what they are thinking at the Chicago Tribune. Someone at U of I blacked out Ron Santo’s name in an email that Terry Mclendon wrote and that is a news story? Holy Cow!
I never thought this was a huge deal at first. Then I thought the Tribune was making it more than it was. Then I thought they were hysterical screaming lunatics. Now, I have no idea what to think with this Ron Santo email.
Isn’t there anyone left at the Chicago Tribune who can ask the question “Is This News?” before they hit the send button?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 10:57 am:
==It looks like the University of Illinois dropped the ball — and violated the spirit of the law==
That’s some hard hitting journalism there Lou
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Jun 23, 09 @ 4:25 pm:
As far as the ethics bill goes, the legislation is severable so the alleged unconstitutional provision won’t sink the ship. That being said, Quinn should have the foresight to use his amendatory veto powers to right the bill’s constitutional wrongs and thus prevent the inevitable legal challenges.
What he should NOT do is monkey with the meat of the legislation. Should caps on contributions and party transfers be lower? Maybe. Would it be more fair if the limits in place were by election cycle and not annual? Probably. Do we really need to open (actually, re-open) another can of worms while we sit seemingly deadlocked in overtime session without a budget or a signed capital bill? Come on.
Resist the urge, Pat; resist the urge.