From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Governor vows to toughen state ethics reform plan

June 13, 2003

BY DAVE MCKINNEY AND COURTNEY K. WADE Staff Reporters

Setting up a potential autumn showdown with the General Assembly, Gov. Blagojevich vowed Thursday to reject a legislative plan to crack down on ethical lapses at the Statehouse because it lacks "teeth."

Legislation inspired by the George Ryan corruption scandal and now awaiting the governor's action would criminalize state employees doing political work on state time or with state resources. It also would enhance whistleblower protections and prohibit political fund-raising on state property or in Sangamon County--home to the Capitol--when the General Assembly is in session.

But government watchdog groups complained that the package that passed both houses of the Legislature two weeks ago was watered down at the last minute, a theme Blagojevich echoed Thursday with his promise to use his amendatory veto on the bill.

"That legislation does take some important steps, and we'll preserve that progress. But 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.

Specifically, the governor wants to reinstate an inspector general and an ethics commission to police misconduct throughout much of state government, positions stripped out by Senate Democrats.

Further, he said he wants legislators to approve a toll-free ethics hotline that was in the original legislation and bar state officials from appearing in commercials encouraging organ donation, college savings programs and other public service announcements sometimes seen as thinly veiled campaign commercials.

Lawmakers this fall will either vote to accept his changes, vote to allow the bill to take effect as is or do nothing, which would kill the ethics legislation. The governor threatened to keep lawmakers in Springfield beyond their fall term if they don't embrace his plan.

Leaders in the Democratic-led House and Senate refused to predict what route they may take. But a top aide to Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) questioned whether the governor is overstepping his constitutional powers by trying to rewrite the ethics law in such a sweeping manner.