State Rep. Ralph Capparelli would spend thousands on wedding gifts for constituents he didn’t even know.
Senate President James “Pate” Philip would drop tens of thousands on big league sports events.
Other state politicians would dip in to send their kids to school, put additions on their homes, buy zippy cars, take lavish vacations on tropical islands or feather retirement nests.
The source of all this largess? Their campaign funds.
One of the purposes of the sweeping ethics reform legislation passed by the General Assembly in 1998 was to halt the practice of politicians converting their campaign war chests into personal piggy banks, which at the time was perfectly legal under Illinois law.
And who got much of the credit for getting it passed? George Ryan.
That’s why there’s something unseemly about the governor’s continued fundraising for himself, even after his Aug. 8 announcement that he would not seek another term in office.
The reform law was struck down last year by a Will County judge and the ruling has been appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, but that shouldn’t prevent Ryan from showing restraint–not to mention class. Former Gov. Jim Edgar slowed down his fundraising efforts even before announcing his retirement, then did not hold any afterward. Forgive the naive notion, but campaign contributions should go toward . . . well, campaigns. Preferably, your own.
Regardless of how the high court rules on the reform law, Ryan may convert at least $4.9 million in campaign funds to personal use, as long as he pays income taxes on it. That’s the amount he had in his campaign coffers at the cutoff date determined by the law: June 30, 1998.
Campaign records show Ryan had $3.1 million in funds as of June 30, 2001. That begs two questions.
Is he holding fundraisers now for any reason other than padding his retirement booty?
Why would anyone add to this modest fortune unless something specific was to be sought in return during the governor’s remaining 17 months in office?
One person invited to Ryan’s Sept. 17 golf fundraiser in Lake County said the invitation raised eyebrows. “If I have to figure out where to put $1,000 for political purposes, I’m probably more apt to give it to people who are actually in a campaign.”
In other words, $3.1 million ain’t chump change, governor.
Quit while you’re that much ahead.
