Yeah, What They Said - Updated x 2

The Pantagraph ran an editorial Sunday, urging the support of House Bill 1, legislation I sponsored that would effectively end the pay-to-play politics stories that have dominated our state for far too long.

The bill passed the House unanimously on April 25th, but has since languished in the Senate.

They have been joined in calling for the passage of this bill by the following papers:

• Chicago Tribune
• Chicago Sun-Times
• State Journal-Register
• Daily Herald
• Daily Southtown
• Herald & Review
• Southern Illinoisan
• St. Louis Post-Disptach

Not to mention, an overwhelming number of Illinoisans.

Ending pay-to-play, and even the allegations of it? Seems like a no-brainer, right?

From the Pantagraph:

With each new report of investigations into Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign fund and other dealings, the need for stronger ethics legislation in Illinois becomes readily apparent to everyone except, apparently, the governor and some top legislative leaders.

Records from the governor’s campaign fund reportedly have been subpoenaed by federal investigators looking into corruption...

Meanwhile, House Bill 1, which would place restrictions on donations from state contractors, continues to wallow in the Senate Rules Committee more than six weeks after it was unanimously approved by the Illinois House.

Forty-five of the 59 members of the Senate have signed on as sponsors so far, including all senators from the Pantagraph area. But Senate President Emil Jones won’t let it out of committee.

If Jones has a better idea, we want to hear it — before the next indictment is handed down.

President Jones has said that he has some 'other things' that he would like to see done, and that HB1 'doesn't go far enough'. But every House member, good government group, and major media outlet thinks that it is just what we need, and long overdue.

At a time when a number of people who could use some good press could get some by simply doing the right thing, I think that I've got just the thing for them.

Pass and sign House Bill 1.

UPDATE - Add Crain's to the list:

Pay-to-play politics also undermines public confidence in government and encourages voter apathy. Why should ordinary citizens participate in a process they perceive to be rigged in favor of insiders?

Banning campaign contributions by big state contractors would be a move in the right direction on both fronts. It would help address the state's chronic financial woes and give Illinoisans a reason to believe their state government works for them.

If only Mr. Jones would get out of the way.

Another update - The Chicago Sun-Times weighed in again on the subject today:

If House and Senate leaders are sincere about favoring a bill to discourage the egregious "pay-to-play" politics, it shouldn't be too difficult to pass one. It's clear most lawmakers want to approve something, and the competing versions of the idea aren't so different that compromise would be impossible. If they are sincere about demonstrating that Illinois government is not for sale, then there's no excuse for not passing this legislation.

It's doesn't get much more clear cut.