Break out the Champaign

Cross-posted from ICPR's blog, The Race is On:

Disclosure is all we’ve got in Illinois -- that’s why it’s so important to defend against efforts to evade disclosure. The Champaign News-Gazette agrees, and added its pages to the growing chorus of voices who recognize that basic idea.

But don’t take my word for it – take their words:

“Illinois' campaign disclosure laws often have been described as the Wild West of election laws — there are few limits on who can give to what. But nearly all contributions and expenditures have to be disclosed. That was the problem with the Justice For All Foundation. It gave money to a subsidiary group but never disclosed all the donors for the lump sum, an apparent attempt to circumvent disclosure laws.”

They conclude:

“it's not like the executives at the Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity were political neophytes. Whitley is head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, is a former revenue department director and has been part of the Springfield scene for 30 years. The treasurer of the group is Greg Baise, head of the Illinois Manufacturers Association and a former state transportation secretary. The chairman of the group is Ron Gidwitz, a Republican candidate for governor.

"These men, who all profess that they want clean government in Illinois, should know better. They need to come clean, disclose the sources of the money to (now) Justice Karmeier, and stop making a mockery out of Illinois' campaign disclosure laws.”