City Room™ - Politics - Campaign Finance Deal Clears Illinois Legislature

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City RoomTM Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff

Campaign Finance Deal Clears Illinois Legislature
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Friday, October 30, 2009

Illinois State Legislature (Photo by Randy von Liski)

A bill to limit political donations to state and local campaigns in Illinois cleared the legislature this afternoon. It's a compromise deal forged with Democratic leaders by government reform groups, which had been arguing for stronger rules.

The deal limits for the first time in Illinois donations to campaigns from individuals, businesses, unions and special interests. But it lets political parties and leaders give however much they want during general elections. Senator Mike Jacobs from the Quad Cities was one of only a handful of Democrats - along with all Republicans - to vote no.

JACOBS: I do believe that the reform group has done a great job of selling out. They didn't get anything that they wanted, but a phony cap that I will have to hire accountants and lawyers to get around.

For weeks, leaders of the group Change Illinois had fought for stricter limits. But they ended up endorsing this bill, calling it a good start.

The legislation now goes to Governor Pat Quinn, who hasn't said if he'll sign it.

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