In the News

Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2008

SPRINGFIELD - A Senate panel unanimously approved a ban on "pay-to-play" for state contractors Thursday despite a last-minute threat from Senate President Emil Jones to add a provision proponents said would derail the legislation.

Jones (D-Chicago) wants to amend the bill to make it impossible for all statewide officials to get campaign cash from contractors that do at least $50,000 in business with any of the state's six constitutional officers. Under Jones' version, a company that gets a contract from the governor couldn't give campaign cash to the treasurer, for example.

That would be a change from a bipartisan agreement lawmakers announced last week after more than a year of dickering. The lawmakers' version would ban companies that hold or seek at least $50,000 in business from contributing to the campaigns of the office-holder who actually awards the contract. Proponents said the bill addresses funding scandals that have dogged many public officials in Illinois, including Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) said the Jones amendment appears to be a "poison pill" aimed at killing ethics reform.

"I bet [the sponsor] that this won't go to the governor," Watson said. "It is not going to become law."

Jones maintained he simply wanted to "improve" the agreed-upon proposal because it still has "gaping holes," such as not addressing contributions from state political parties. Though he agreed to hold off on his proposed changes while House and Senate members discuss his ideas, Jones made it clear he may revive his proposal before he allows a full Senate vote next week.

Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D- Crete), who helped negotiate the pay-to-play deal, said she has no intention of letting Jones tinker with the bill.

"He knows better," said Halvorson, a congressional candidate whom Jones recently kicked off the powerful rules committee. "[The amendment] will not be put on there because that kills it over in the [House], and I wouldn't vote for it over here."

Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer wouldn't predict how Jones will vote on the bill if his concerns aren't addressed.

Lawmakers sometimes try to "improve" bills they oppose to block legislation, a scenario that appeared to unfold recently when a proposal to create a recall provision was amended by a lawmaker who verbally attacked the House sponsor in a committee hearing. Recall eventually died in the Senate, proponents said, because the amended version was designed to fail.

In that vein, Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) said Thursday that he wants to modify a House resolution rejecting raises for state officials - a change opponents fear will kill the measure and allow the pay increases.

Hendon said he might not allow a vote on the resolution in its current form and derided Sen. Susan Garrett (D- Lake Forest) for sponsoring the pay-raise rejection. Hendon charged she doesn't need the raise because she's "filthy rich."

Jones, the Senate president, sarcastically told reporters interviewing Garrett that he has to "get me some food stamps." Garrett called the comments "unfortunate."