I was very interested to read about Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s new proposal to reform campaign finances (“Madigan set to push fundraising restrictions,” MetroChicago, Sept. 25).
Many politicians who have achieved success in the arena have become belated reformers of the very system that facilitated their own ascension up the ladder. Now that they have arrived, they want to pull the ladder up. Madigan’s proposal is an incumbent-protection program rather than a serious effort at reform.
The Madigan proposal seeks to place caps on the amounts that individuals, corporations, unions or political action committees can give to individual candidates. This proposal is similar to the federal limits on contributions and more than likely will be rife with loopholes as well. Clever political operatives and election-law experts can find ways around those laws like electricity finds the point of least resistance.
It is no coincidence that Madigan’s change of heart comes at a time when he is defending a slim majority in the legislature. His incumbents can send out mail, hold public forums, maintain offices and staff, all at taxpayer expense. Madigan’s plan would still allow huge transfers from his Democrat party fund to his favorite candidates, conferring party control by him. In the meantime the challengers have to raise their own money, dollar for dollar, and/or get help from their respective parties or large benefactors.
Illinois law currently requires that contributions be reported publicly. This reporting should be on the Internet instead of the present cumbersome paper system. Let’s cut out the insult to our intelligence that Madigan’s proposal represents.
