Governor to beef up ethics bill
Some suggest Blagojevich may misuse veto

By MARY MASSINGALE
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU

In a challenge to state lawmakers, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday said he would use his amendatory veto power to strengthen ethics reforms watered down in the final days of the legislative session.

"If we stop now, we will end up with an ethics reform package that is little more than a half-measure dressed up as a solution," he said. "We need to finish what the legislature started."

Some wonder, however, whether the governor is overstepping his authority.

Lawmakers approved measures that require state employees to receive annual ethics training, as ell 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. Their plan also provides protection to whistle-blowers, prohibits state officeholders from broadcasting public service announcements during an election and bans lobbyists from state panels.

Eliminated from an earlier proposal were provisions calling 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.

"If you want to appear in a commercial, take up acting," Blagojevich said at a Chicago news conference. "And if you want to campaign, spend your own money."

The call for ethics reform comes during a year in which federal prosecutors are investigating allegations in both the House and Senate that staff members have conducted political work on state time. In March, a federal jury convicted Scott Fawell, an aide to former Gov. George Ryan when he served as secretary of state, of political corruption charges that include racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and stealing state property.

Blagojevich threatened to call a special session if the legislature does not act on his proposed changes to House Bill 3412 during the fall veto session set for Nov. 4-6 and 18-20.

An advocate for political reform pledged to work with the governor and lawmakers to hammer out meaningful change by the end of the year.

"Illinois has had far too many problems for far too long for us to allow true ethics reform to slip through our grasp," said Cindi Canary of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

A spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, questioned the scope of Blagojevich's proposed changes.

"He may have overstepped his constitutional authority," said Cindy Davidsmeyer.

She also wondered about the proposed executive inspector general, who would have subpoena power, as well as authority over other constitutional officers.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan is "willing to look at" Blagojevich's proposed changes, said spokeswoman Melissa Merz.

"When all the dust settles, we want an ethics commission, and we want an enforcement mechanism," Merz said.

Blagojevich's plan does not call for an ethics commission or inspector general for the legislature, key components of the bipartisan legislation that originally passed the House. The governor said he did not include them for fear of violating the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

A spokesman for the sponsor of that bill, House Minority Leader Rep. Tom Cross of Oswego, said the Republican lawmaker would push for such provisions during the fall veto session.

But the senator who sponsored the approved ethics package said she would wait until next spring to push for legislative oversight.

"We need to address the highest level of government first," said Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest.

Mike Ramsey of Copley News Service contributed to this report. Mary Massingale can be reached at 782-6882 or mary.massingale@sj-r.com.