From the State Journal Register

Limits sought on naming rights
House Speaker Madigan backs governor's idea of corporate sponsorships
By DOUG FINKE
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Wednesday he will endorse the idea of selling naming rights to state-owned buildings, but with restrictions.
Madigan introduced legislation to prohibit state government from selling naming rights to the state Capitol, Old State Capitol, Executive Mansion, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and any Lincoln sites, among other properties.
"I know no Illinoisan would want commercial signage slapped on the Statehouse or any diminishment of any Lincoln sites," Madigan said in a written statement.
However, the Chicago Democrat also said the idea of selling commercial space on state property may have merit as a way of producing additional revenue.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has been looking at the idea of selling naming rights and other commercial sponsorships on state properties. Administration officials said no concept was off the table, but acknowledged it was unlikely the state would sell naming rights to a state building the way cities sell the naming rights to sports stadiums.
They did not rule out the possibility that some area within a state facility might be sold as a corporate sponsorship.
Madigan's bill also prohibits the sale of "sponsorship rights" in the buildings where naming rights cannot be sold.
"You want to be careful of specific buildings that play a significant role in the government, like the Lincoln sites and places of honor," said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown. "You don't want to demean or diminish these facilities with some kind of advertising program."
Other sites included in Madigan's bill are the Vandalia State House, the Executive Mansion in Du Quoin, Illinois homes of "all past, present, or future United States presidents," any state property controlled by someone other than the governor and any property named by the General Assembly.
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin, one of the General Assembly's budget experts, said the whole naming-rights idea is just another desperate attempt to keep the leaky state budget afloat. He said there is a danger in asking state officials to solicit contributions from corporations, some of which may be regulated by the state.
"Isn't that what got (former governor) George (Ryan) in trouble?" Rauschenberger asked.
Rauschenberger, a candidate for U.S. Senate, also doesn't think the idea will produce much money for the state.
"The reason there are naming rights for sports events is they are broadcast on TV," he said. "Who is going to be interested in this product? Who wants the naming rights to Menard prison?"
Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the properties spelled out in Madigan's bill were never under consideration for naming rights or sponsorships.
"We made it clear there was no intention to rename the state Capitol," Ottenhoff said. "This legislation doesn't really cover a lot of what we are considering anyway."
She added that the administration is "glad (Madigan) is on board with the concept."