From the State Journal Register

Governor rewrites ethics package
Amendatory veto sets stage for talks with lawmakers
By MARY MASSINGALE
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU

Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday made sweeping changes in ethics legislation, more than two months after he vowed to tighten the watered-down initiative approved by lawmakers and threatened to call a special session to do so.
However, in his amendatory veto message to legislators, Blagojevich seemed to soften his previous stance by saying he was open to developing "a new ethics bill over the months leading into the veto session," which is set for Nov. 4-6 and 18-20.
"He is certainly open to ideas on how to do this," said Abby Ottenhoff, a spokeswoman for Blagojevich. "But ultimately, he wants this done."
Legislative leaders all agreed they want substantial ethics reform approved this year and downplayed the upcoming - and possibly contentious - negotiations.
"The back-and-forth is not that important," said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, noted that the House had originally approved legislation that mirrored many of the changes recommended by Blagojevich.
"The bottom line is we are committed to meaningful, comprehensive ethics reform," said Cross. "We can hammer it out over the summer and fall. We can get it done."
In his message, Blagojevich said House Bill 3412 as passed by lawmakers "needs substantial improvement" and "lacks enforcement mechanisms."
The General Assembly approved measures that require state employees to receive annual ethics training, as well as ban them from doing political work on state time and prohibit the promise of jobs or bonuses for political contributions - which are already illegal. The legislature's plan also provides protection to whistle-blowers, prohibits state officeholders from broadcasting public service announcements during an election and bans lobbyists from state panels.
Legislators eliminated from an earlier proposal provisions that call for ethics commissions, inspectors general and toll-free ethics hot lines, which Blagojevich wants to restore to oversee the executive branch.
The governor also wants to strengthen the state's Gift Ban Act by eliminating an exemption that allows lobbyists to provide golf and tennis outings for lawmakers, and limiting lobbyists' gifts of food and drinks to $75 a day. His plan increases lobbyist registration fees from $50 to $500 and bans any constitutional officer or lawmaker from appearing in any public service announcement.
However, Blagojevich backed down from restricting lobbyists from state panels, adding an exemption for lobbyists who serve on boards that deal with issues other than those for which they advocate. Another exemption would allow the new Executive Ethics Commission to issue waivers for lobbyists whose expertise is needed on a specific state board or task force.
A spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, questioned the constitutionality of Blagojevich's sweeping changes. "We want to take a look at whether he's exceeded his amendatory veto powers," said Cindy Davidsmeyer.
Ottenhoff said the governor waited to act until the final day allowed by law to make sure the new language accurately and legally reflected his changes.
"It didn't change the basic essence of the bill," Ottenhoff said. "He made some comprehensive changes, but that's within the governor's purview."
An advocate of political reform applauded the governor's changes in a year that has seen both political parties accused of corruption.
"At long last, Illinois appears to be taking the necessary steps to move beyond its shameful legacy of scandal and corruption," stated Cindi Canary of the Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition in a news release.
Federal prosecutors are investigating allegations in both the Illinois House and Senate that Democratic and Republican staff members have conducted political work on state time. State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka's office also is under investigation for similar allegations.
In March, a federal jury convicted Scott Fawell, an aide to former Republican Gov. George Ryan when he served as secretary of state, of political corruption charges that include racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and stealing state property.