One of the major reasons this state has been paralyzed to address the deep economic and social problems we face is due to the involvement of money with politics. Elected officials collect large sums of money to run their campaigns, and they often pay back campaign contributors with special access and favorable laws. This common practice is contrary to the public interest, yet legal.

Illnois is one of only five states with no limits on the amount of money corporations, unions, or individuals can attribute to state officeholders. As a result, special interests in Springfield can and do contribute millions of dollars to legislators to further their interests—much of it going to the PACs of our legislative leaders in the House and Senate.

There are several website that track the influence of money in politics. www.followthemoney.org and www.maplight.org are two to check out.

If money equals influence, it means the voice of the wealthy and connected is more powerful than the voice of the regular citizens of the state. In order to restore representative democracy in this state, we need limits on the amount of money that flows to political coffers.

I propose Illinois adopt the same regulations that federal campaigns follow, which bar unions and corporations and limit individual contributions to $2400.

Too often Democratic politicians have delivered sweetheart deals to insiders, friends and family in exchange for campaign cash and sent us the bill.  This must stop, and will if we adopt the federal system of campaign regulation.