Some legislators told the campaign finance task force they felt beholden to their leaders who control campaign funds. According to Common Cause, the leaders control more money than all the 173 legislators combined. Not surprisingly, that recommendation is missing from Madigan's plan. Common Cause ranks Illinois as the worst state when it comes to regulating campaign contributions and the way they are spent. Perhaps that ranking eventually will shame lawmakers into making some meaningful changes.
Reform is overdue.
To be sure, Madigan's plan has some elements for reform, but it has some major flaws. It's unrealistic to expect a comprehensive package will be hammered out in six days this fall. But campaign finance reform must be a priority in the spring, or voters will have every reason to be all the more cynical about the money-grubbing in politics.