Business as usual in corrupt Illinois politics

By Richard Henry Lee

Gov. Pat Quinn (D) was pushing for reform in Illinois politics at the same time his campaign aides were selling "face time" with the Governor to trade groups. Quinn succeeded former Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) after the latter was indicted for offering to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat along with several other charges of corruption.

Quinn's campaign aides approached several trade groups in Springfield with the offer to meet with the Governor in return for $15,000 campaign donations.

On Friday, Quinn confirmed he was aware his campaign contacted groups that already offered to help him raise campaign cash. But he also acknowledged those efforts went "above and beyond" to include some that hadn't offered fundraising help. A campaign director "made a mistake" that was "naive," the governor said.

Apparently naive mistakes are no longer tolerated in Illinois.

Meanwhile, those reform efforts are meeting resistance in the Democratic-controlled Illinois State Senate (where Obama served prior to being elected to the US Senate).

Quinn appointed a reform commission headed by former Federal prosecutor, Patrick Collins, to clean up Illinois politics. But Collins is getting frustrated with the process. According to the Chicago Sun Times:

On Friday, Collins saw part of what the commission recommended -- tougher penalties against corrupt officeholders -- get sliced and diced by a Senate subcommittee.

Old habits are hard to break in Illinois.