State targets 'pay to play'

With Illinois' previous governor imprisoned for corruption and the current one engulfed by a top fundraiser's influence-peddling trial, lawmakers Wednesday took a tentative step toward barring companies that ...

[DON]

The article states in two paragraphs: "The legislation would take effect Jan. 1, giving Blagojevich several months to collect campaign contributions from existing state contractors. It does not cover state lawmakers, who could keep building campaign funds with the help of state contractors.

Fritchey offered a blunt explanation: "We have not been engaged in or accused of selling state contracts.""

Fritchey needs to pull his head out. Make it an all encompassing law that bans all types of contributions to any politician from someone seeking to do business with the state. Then do the same for all county and city politicians from those seeking to do business with them.

Here is an opportunity to really clean up this dam state. But as usual, politicians only want to enact laws that affect others but not themselves!

I call BS on Fritchey and the rest of them!!

[Neil]

Has Illinois surpassed Louisiana in political corruption or what?

Where is Peter Fitzgerald, the only honest Illinois pol in my lifetime, when you need him?

[Leave it to Beavers]

Won't pass. Inmates in charge of the asylum. It's all posturing to look good on T.V. and newspaper. They are taking advantage of Blogosovitch's troubles and grandstanding. It won't pass. This is Illinois.

[Master Bader]

Another clean up promise,like the last 30 years?

[orland45]

Great about time, Now what happens.!

[George]

You have got to be kidding- this is a joke, right? Those criminals in the state legislature would never allow this to pass. But, they will put on the usual show, all the seriousness ans self-righteousness. It makes me sick.

[Todd Stroger]

Why do we need a law like this? What corruption?

Me and my friends are running Cook County like a Swiss watch.

Great leaders like me are never appreciated in their own time.

[Bessie]

The Rezko trial is continuing today, maybe Patrick Fitgerald will be sending out a subpoena to the Governor. That usually takes the fight out of anyone, even Rod.

[scoop]

the fox is guarding the hen house....nothin is gonna change...

[sowhat]

Either it won't pass, or it will be watered down to a farce (similar to what the other newspaper says the Senate is doing to the recall resolution you at the Tribune so love). "Official supervising the contractor." The gove probably will say that he supervises nothing. And try to get the legislature to override an amendatory veto. It sure didn't happen with the RTA bill.

I won't believe it until I see something effective enacted. Until then, it is posturing.

[AEM]

Blowjerkobitch was going to stop the "Pay for Play" in this state, that's was one of his campaign slogans , Lying politician ! They all got their hand in the cookie jar, what makes any of thinks this will change ?

[Engineering Reform]

Why don't they take the contracts away from the firms that paid to play. Give back to the community that is honest and hard working. Take Patrick Engineering, EDI and Wight Co. and demand they give there work to firms that aren't quite as corupt? Seems like a great idea to me, but I do work for one of the not corupt firms.

[todd stroger]

Yo! rod, this is todd,I'm in the paper again for hiring an unqualified real estate guy who worked at my "club" for 90,000 a year post and need to ram through another TAX increase to hire more patronage workers. It's just old hat! clear the payrolls and hire my guys.I probably won't wind up in jail but I probably should be impeached.

[rod]

Please quit comparing me too,er mayor quimby. Ending pay to play is the er cornerstone of my campaign.gee george, the food in here was much better when you were govoner.Meet me and todd in the prison playground.

[Down in Springfield]

The bill will absolutely pass both chambers, probably unanimously.

[sowhat]

Down in Springfield wrote:

The bill will absolutely pass both chambers, probably unanimously.

Tell it to Boers and Bernstein, 5:00 p.m. today. Who Ya Crappin?

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you were being sarcastic.

[Ron]

Blago needs to be put UNDER the jail for his boldfaced hypocracy! I worked at the state at the time Blago came in and had all the rank and file workers sign a bull hockey ethics statement. Too bad he and his staff didn't take the 'ethics' statement to heart. He'll get what he deserves. So much for the democratic mandate...they sold us out to higher taxes and stuffed their pockets WAY more than G. Ryan.

[jfx]

Why are companies allowed to make political donations at all? Of course they are trying to gain business advantage when they do so - otherwise they are wasting their shareholders money!

Political donations should only be made by individuals. It is supposed to be government for the people, not for the company, union or Political Action Committee.

[Marty Didier]

A move in the right direction -- hurray! There still is a lot more expected to surface so we all better hold on to our hats. Right Gov?

Marty Didier
Northbrok, IL

[Mirror]

The people who pushed a recall should look in the mirror. They are all hyprocrites, taking money and doing shady deals on the side for the same "legal" things. You know who you are.