Republicans propose True Campaign Finance Reform

HB 5008 will impose campaign limits on legislative leaders' caucus committees in general election

In keeping their pledge to Illinois residents to continue to push true campaign finance reform, Illinois House Republican Leader Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and his members support a bill that would impose campaign contribution limits on legislative leaders' caucus committees and political parties in the general election.

“The current law puts contribution limits on everyone EXCEPT the four legislative leaders and political parties in the general election. That is not fair—we must apply the rules to everyone,” said Cross. “We could not support the bill that passed last year because it only imposed these limits in primary elections. This new bill closes the gaping loophole that was created by that law.”

“This bill will help restore power to the citizens of Illinois and their elected representatives by reducing the control of the legislative leaders” said Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Sycamore). “Money buys power, control of the legislative process and financing for cooperative candidates. That's the practice that has led to gridlock and fiscal mismanagement in Springfield . Rep Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) added “The legislation we're introducing today does what the bill signed into law last year should have done, impose reasonable caps across the board in the General Election. This will be a big step in putting power back into the hands of individual voters.”

Senate Republicans are also in favor of this improvement to the current law.

“The Democrat majorities and the Governor failed to capitalize on a unique opportunity to pass meaningful campaign finance reform. By not capping contributions limits for legislative leaders and political parties during the General Election, their measure will have limited impact. We now have an opportunity to right that wrong and enact true campaign finance reform,” Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said.

House Bill 5008 will extend the varied campaign contribution limitations that were created in Senate Bill 1466 (P.A. 96-832) to the general election. The current limitations on legislative leaders and political parties will only apply during the primary elections starting in 2011.

“This should be a no-brainer if we want to curb the influence of the leaders in Illinois ,” said Cross. “The majority of money is spent in general elections. According to our analysis in the 2008 election cycle—the Democratic Party of Illinois spent 40 times more in the general election compared to what it spent in the primary.”

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