Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Do Things Right

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

The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette recently noted the strong sentiment among Illinois voters for cleaning up government. Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones say they support ethics reform, but the newspaper said they haven't delivered it.

"They talk a good game but their actions show nothing but contempt for ethics reforms," The News-Gazette said in a strong editorial. (Read all of it here.)

Regular readers of this blog know that House Bill 1, which would limit opportunities for pay-to-play in state government, passed the House without any opposition on April 25th, but Senate President Jones has kept it locked in the Senate Rules Committee even though 45 senators have signed on a co-sponsors.

Other important reform legislation also has met a roadblock in the Senate.

The News-Gazette asked some important questions: " . . . why don't the Senate president and his pal, Rod "We do things right" Blagojevich, get behind tough disclosure laws on elected officials, lobbyists, contractors and subcontractors? Why don't they limit no-bid state contracts? Why don't they open up ethics commission investigations?"

This would be a good time for answers and for passing restrictions on pay-to-play opportunities.

2 comments:

Anonymous,  10:14 AM  

A world without pay-to-play and patronage goes against their beliefs, and threatens their existence...why would they act on those measures?

Vote out all incumbents until they get the message.

Anonymous,  10:30 AM  

E. Jones wont support ethics reform he wouldnt be able to give his family state jobs and no bid contracts then.

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