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Ethics law for everyone else

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Illinois

I’m going to make a call on this later today, but I wonder why the same state law that bars the private company that runs the Bright Start college savings program from using Judy Baar Topinka in its TV ads, still allows an insurance company to use a big photo of Governor Rod Blagojevich in a direct mail sales pitch and public service ad.

The outside of the envelope received this week at a central Illinois home looks likes just another run-of-the-mill piece of junk mail.

“Important dated information on auto insurance savings” it states above the address window.

But inside, one of four inserts features a nice color picture, nearly 7 inches long and 3 inches deep, of a smiling Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, his wife and youngest daughter, and an assistant vice president of the insurance company.

The paper is in the form of a newsletter titled “On the Safe Side.” It discusses seat belt and child car seat safety, including a signed letter from the governor. On the bottom of both sides is the governor’s name and a full-color seal of the state of Illinois, side-by-side with the name of the company: 21st Century Insurance. On one side, the company’s name is matched with the words “Good People To Call.” The other provides the company’s Web site and toll-free number.

The rest of the mailing is clearly designed to sell car insurance, with a promise of likely savings.

The state law banning images of public officials in public service ads doesn’t include direct mail, so the guv has apparently found a loophole for himself. But remember how the governor chastised other officials for taking advantage of PSA’s to boost their own name recognition and favorability ratings?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 10, 05 @ 8:29 am

Comments

Rich, when you make a call on this also ask if the citizens of Illinois can expect more of these types of advertisements under the corporate sponsorship proposal. If you read the entire Schoenburg article, it’s clear that this administration is ready to sell the state seal for use in corporate advertisements, implying the endorsement of a particular brand or product.

The State of Illinois is funded by my tax dollars. The least I expect in exchange is that state services be free of ubiquitous advertising, and that my state government not be used to try to sell car insurance.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 10, 05 @ 9:17 am
Are other states doing this? Selling the state seal?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 10, 05 @ 9:31 am
The number of policies they sell will be some measure the effectiveness of their pitchman.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 10, 05 @ 10:53 am
Is his face still on the Billboards in Chicago? Is he still doing the Radio ads in Chicago? Typical

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 10, 05 @ 2:43 pm
Yeah, Maria Pappas did the same thing in the Senate primaries. Sent out a generic informational packet about property taxes through some “ethnic outreach” program.

Comment by :::::HST Friday, Feb 11, 05 @ 12:08 am