Progress Illinois

Back in January, Gov. Pat Quinn used his first executive order to bring the Illinois Reform Commission (IRC) -- an independent ethics panel he created as Lt. Governor to devise a blueprint for state political reform -- under the office of the governor. Two months later, former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins and his fellow commission members have made their initial recommendations public. The Tribune has the specifics. Here are a few highlights:

*Establish campaign contribution limits of $2,400 from individuals; $5,000 from special interest groups, organized labor and corporations; and $50,000 from party committeess to statewide candidtaes

*Extend a "pay to play" ban regarding state contracts and campaign contributions to the General Assembly.

*Ban contributions from lobbyists and trusts altogether.

*Hold primary elections in June, closer to the November general election, to cut down on costs and length of campaigns.

*Set up a test project for taxpayer financing of campaigns.

The reform community should be pleased with the recommendations. Even though Collins didn't put any members of the state's good government groups on his commission, two of their top priorities following the Blagojevich impeachment -- campaign contributions and a beefed-up pay-to-play ban -- made the cut. And a pilot program for public financing seems a legitimate compromise for those skeptical about its cost and viability.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton's bicameral ethics committee will deliver their own report soon and is expected to make far less comprehensive recommendations. But Quinn and reform advocates shouldn't let the IRC's ideas get swept under the rug.  Now is a perfect time to force powerful-yet-hesitant party leaders to reform the electoral system drastically.  But it's going to take a lot of pressure to make that happen.