Why doesn't Rod or the Dems get any credit for ethics reforms?
(One more, then I'm done for the week)
Today Edwin Eisendrath launched his campaign for governor, setting up a Democratic primary. His website here has the theme of Honesty, Independence and Integrity and he has launched into an attack on Blagojevich's alleged corruption in office.
I wonder why no one seems to get any credit for the Ethics Act of 2003.
This was, I think by all accounts, a big deal.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (disclosure: a former employer for a bit) has this factsheet on the many provisions of the legislation. For the first time, a lot of things that were considered business-as-usual were banned with some fairly strong enforcement mechanisms, including:
- Restricting gifts from lobbyists, state contractors, and others with a special interest in the outcome of government decisions to public officials.
- Barring inspectors from soliciting campaign contributions from the businesses or individuals they regulate.
- Creating ethics commissions for the executive and legislative branches of government to adjudicate complaints about unethical behavior.
- Designating inspectors general to investigate ethics complaints about public employees and officials.
- Mandating ethics training for all state employees and officials.
Speaker Madigan and Governor Blagojevich deserve a lot of credit for this law -- the Governor pushed very hard over the summer and fall of 2003 for a tougher ethics package. No one seems to give him any real credit for that. That really was political reform and ending some shady practices.
I know there are a litany of complaints about Blagojevich (some of them fair, some of them carping) but for a moment, I'd like to ignore all of that and just ask the question why no one -- particularly the governor -- seems to get any credit for cleaning up part of Illinois government with this substantive Ethics Act.
15 comments:
A BIG reason could be the fact that while other people have bust their asses for years actually trying to do this, the Governor simply played politics (as usual) with the ethics issue. He promised to 'rock the system' in March, put out a press release months later, and then when their session was almost over and it was too late to do anything, finally shows up with a bill.
AND THEN, does nothing all summer or fall with it, not even during veto session (heaven forbid anything take ANY attention away from AllKids).
THEN you look at the fact that they still refused to pass a bill to end pay to play and to limit how much leaders can transfer to members and their 'desire' to reform becomes that much more transparent.
PLUS, you look at his fundraising numbers and tactics, the federal investigations, computers being taken from his offices by the feds, questionable hiring and contracting practices, and you wonder why people don't think that he is sincere about this issue? Dan, you're smarter than this.
The ones that deserve any credit are the ones that fought for this when it wasn't popular or easy to do. Quinn, Fritchey, Obama, Cross et al. If it wasn't for their work, a lot of this stuff never would have gotten done.
You want some real insight? Try asking any of the reform groups how sincere THEY feel the Governor is about this issue.
The law is a huge joke. True, it is better than what we had but this has holes big enough to drive a semi truck through it. Conn just passed a meaningful law on ethics. True also that we cannot entirely blame Blago although his cronys have sold or bartered every job or contract in sight, but we can blame democrats Madigan and Jones for not pushing for real reform. By the way, I have taken the ethics training as a state employee twice now and that is almost like stand up comedy. For the record ask how many complaints each inspector general has investigated since appointment. I know of two who are not in the governor's office who said sheepishly "none". It would be good to hear Blago talk about how ethical he and his administration are though and watch their noses grow in the process.
I'd say about seven state and federal investigations has something to do with the cynicism.
And, zero results from the inspector general, who quit in disgust.
And, the most insider money ever raised in Illinois by far.
And, the worst report card ever given by the Auditor General to an administration.
More no-bid contracts than ever.
Yes sir, I sure am glad he put that ethics law in place. Really cleaned things up.
The Ethics law should Blago could talk the talk but the investigations show that he's had some trouble walking the walk.
GO BEARS!
"Should" = "Showed" in the above post. Had a couple brews during the Bears game.
It's eyewash...the "combine" does it just before election time: "Look -- we've passed 'Ethics Legislation.'
Too bad it's always swiss cheese.
One reason might be that the legislative leaders have steadfastly refused to release the time sheets of their legislative employees.
Christine Tobin and I sued Madigan for those when it was obvious that his state employees were challenging Ralph Nader's petitions. He refused. We sued, using the new so-called ethics bill, and lost.
So, lack of transparency might be the reason some of us think very little credit is due for the the bill.
This is a good question. Someone will tell me I'm naive for saying that.
But even a Politican who is committed to clean government isn't going to be believed in Illinois.
In fact we may not vote for him or her for just that reason. That they'd be too naive for the job.
I know there are a litany of complaints about Blagojevich (some of them fair, some of them carping) but for a moment, I'd like to ignore all of that and just ask the question why no one -- particularly the governor -- seems to get any credit for cleaning up part of Illinois government with this substantive Ethics Act.
Because this Act and this Governor haven't actually done anything to "clean up Illinois government."
Solicitation misconduct (720 ILCS 5/33-3.1, barring inspectors from fundraising from those they regulate) was signed into law by George Ryan, not Rod.
Former Minion sums up my feelings pretty well.
Gov. Blagojevich deserves a lot of credit for the Ethics Act. However, that was done in late 2003. In the last two years we have seen a series of embarrasments, gaffes, indictments and a guilty plea involving activities that have taken place under Gov. Blagojevich's watch.
If he gets credit for the ethics act then he gets blame for the scandals.
You have two different questions here. As I said before, Blago doesn't get credit because of all the shenanigans that have gone on under his watch (knew or should have known?). The rest of the Dems who pushed for all of this stuff do get credit. 11:18 is right, the inspector solicitation bill was pushed by Quinn and Fritchey for 7 or 8 years before Pate and Ryan finally relented. That's dedication, not showmanship.
It is hilarious that an employee of an HDO controlled Senator is talking about ethics and reform.
Would the fact that the Gov has worked to stretch every new reform to the limits have something to do with the lack of credit? Insisting that constitutional officers should not appear in commercials as part of the reforms, apparently got lost on the taxpayer funded publicity campaign that includes tollway signs, state employees directed to hand out "campaign", I mean, accomplishment literature, etc
quinn deserves more credit for that bill than rod does. he partly drafted it - the inspector fundraising ban part which he introduced back in the early 90s and fought for since
"Speaker Madigan and Governor Blagojevich deserve a lot of credit for this law -- the Governor pushed very hard over the summer and fall of 2003 for a tougher ethics package. No one seems to give him any real credit for that. That really was political reform and ending some shady practices."
It is ironic, yet not surprising, to read these words from the lawyer that represented Ralph Nader in Illinois during the 2004 President election.
It was Ralph Nader's lawyer that was there when we filed a suit against Michael Madigan using the new ethics bill, and lost.
Dan, have you chosen to forget your past?
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