Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard today announced his ethics reform initiative which includes his pledge to refrain from raising campaign re-election funds if elected as Governor during his first two years in office.
“If I’m fortunate enough to be elected as Illinois’ next governor, I will forgo campaign fundraising efforts for my campaign fund during the first two years in office,” Dillard said. "Additionally, I will only allow them to commence if and when I’ve publicly announced that I will seek re-election. I believe this will send a clear signal to the public that the era of pay-to-play is finally over.”
According to a poll conducted by the Chicago Tribune last week, “nearly 6 in 10 voters said the measures enacted by lawmakers and Quinn would have little or no effect on curbing corruption in Illinois.”
“We have a landmark opportunity to enact real reforms that will restore integrity and pride back to the people of Illinois,” Dillard continued. “The cynicism the public has concerning public officials’ willingness to regulate themselves is well earned. I believe this state’s reputation as being politically corrupt is also a profound effect on our ability to attract and retain employers, jobs and prosperity. This continuing corruption must end now.”
In addition to Dillard’s main objective to refrain from fundraising for his own campaign during the first two years as Governor, Dillard’s ethics reform initiative also includes:
- Encouraging the General Assembly to vote on each individual recommendation from the Collins Commission;
- Passing legislation to ban all fundraising for every state lawmaker and Constitutional Officer commencing 30 days before and at least 72 hours after every regular legislative session, veto session and all special sessions of the Illinois General Assembly;
- Moving the Primary Election date from February to the end of July of the election year;
- Requiring constitutional officers and state lawmakers (and spouses) to disclose their outside financial interests (officer and director positions), income range received from employment, business interests, and property holdings.
- Exploring every option that would serve to substantially curtail election abuses.
Dillard emphasized that the entire Collins Commission list of recommendations should be voted on individually.
“You can’t ask a blue-ribbon panel of experts to examine the system’s political shortcomings and then cherry pick the ones that are considered,” Dillard said. “We should publicly debate each recommendation and vote on it based on its merits. I also find it ironic that Governor Quinn, along with Democratic leadership, attempted to portray House Bill 7, a watered down ethics reform, as ‘meaningful reform’ just to veto the legislation a few days later. ”
Dillard would also add a total ban on fundraising during the months when Illinois’ legislative sessions take place. Currently, only a ban on Springfield-based fundraisers on session days has been set in place by legislation sponsored by Dillard (Public Act 90-737). His new proposal will end all efforts to raise campaign cash 30 days before and at least 72 hours after every regular legislative session, veto session and all special sessions of the Illinois General Assembly. Dillard also proposed that the Primary Election date be moved from February to late July of the election year.
“I’ve never held a Springfield fundraiser because I believe it presents the wrong message to my supporters,” Dillard said. “Many of the pay-to-play troubles we’ve experienced are based on individuals who are trying to build their campaign war chests. People cannot think that policy decisions are being made based on campaign contributions.”
“In order to make Illinois a Destination Economy, we need to restore trust and integrity so that Illinoisans are proud of its leaders and businesses can locate here without being worried about a shakedown,” Dillard continued. “Illinois is in a crisis and needs a full time governor, not someone who is looking to advance his or her own political agenda. I firmly believe by moving the Primary Election date to late July, elected officials will have more time to focus on serving its constituency rather than fixating on their campaign cash flow.”
Dillard said that these proposed reforms will soon be drafted into legislation and filed in the State Senate.
Dillard was the sponsor of the first major ethics reform legislation that passed the General Assembly in a quarter century, Public Act 90-737, effective as of January 1, 1999. First elected state senator in 1994, Dillard was previously the chief of staff for Governor Jim Edgar, and the legislative director for Governor James R. Thompson.
Download release PDF here: www.dillardforgovernor.com/press.html
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