At
the same time that Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing the General Assembly to pass major
ethics reforms and solve a horribly complicated $12 billion budget deficit, his
campaign committee has been calling top Statehouse groups to set up private
meetings with the governor.
The
asking price for the exclusive meetings? $15,000.
But
the program may soon be shut down after questions were raised about at least
the appearance of impropriety, particularly in the wake of ousted Gov. Rod
Blagojevich's "pay to play" excesses.
Several
association executives with Springfield lobbying interests said last week that
they've recently received calls from Quinn's campaign. Some have big-ticket
items that could be chopped out of the budget during the deficit crisis. All
have significant issues pending in the General Assembly, pro and con.
"We
turned them down," said one high-level exec about the campaign calls. The
executive explained that his group does not contribute or discuss contributions
during the legislative session. Ironically enough, several associations - which
have been targeted for campaign contribution limits by the governor's reform
commission - do not contribute during the end of session.
Also
on the ironic side, $15,000 is far above the campaign contribution limits
sought by Gov. Quinn and his reform commission, although these appear to be
requests for "bundled" contributions from several different people at
once.
And
that $15,000 asking price clearly demonstrates how politicians - even
self-professed reformers like Gov. Quinn - intend to get around any new
contribution caps.
According
to numerous sources, the campaign calls began with an offer for a private
meeting with Gov. Quinn in June, often during breakfast or lunch.
"We
were told they wanted to put our members together for 'face time' with the
governor to talk about our interests or concerns," explained one exec. All
of the executives contacted refused to go on the record for fear of possible
retaliation during these crucial final session days.
Three
association execs said they then asked whether this was a fundraiser and were
told it was. One cut off the conversation immediately, the others listened to
the pitch. "She said, 'Well, we want the one-on-one opportunity, but we'd
certainly like to raise $15,000.'"
The
"she" is Holly Copeland, a top official in the governor's campaign
operation. Copeland said last week that she never discussed any legislation or
the budget with any of the executives and lobbyists and said she has "no
idea what's going on as far as specific bills."
But
Dave Lundy, president of the Better Government Association, was shocked.
"To say I find it surprising is to put it mildly," he said, adding:
"The timing creates an enormous appearance problem."
Asked
about the appearance of impropriety of calling associations with major issues
pending in the closing days of the legislative session, Ms. Copeland said,
"I can see what you're saying, but I can assure you that this is not the
intent whatsoever."
Copeland
pointed out that the private meetings are all scheduled for June, but asked
whether associations might find it risky to turn down an offer from the
governor's campaign during May, she said "I can assure you that there is
in no way shape or form that there is any intent" to subtly strong-arm the
groups.
Ms.
Copeland also referred to the $15,000 price as an "arbitrary" number
and said she has worked with groups which couldn't afford it. "If they can
come up with five or less, it's OK."
Most
of the association execs I spoke with said the contacts sounded like they were
"cold calls," and Copeland implied the same when she said the
campaign was "going through associations in the legislative directory,
looking at groups that we thought might be interested."
Bob
Reed, the governor's top spokesman, said he talked with the governor and was
told that only people who had offered to set up fundraisers were contacted.
Reed also said that these people and groups had long-standing relationships
with Quinn.
However,
at least two association executives whose groups were contacted by the campaign
adamantly denied that anybody at their shops had ever approached anyone about
raising money for the governor.
Whatever
the case, Reed implied that the fundraising calls would cease soon.
"I
think it's safe to say that we will rethink our approach here to make sure that
misunderstandings like this don't occur," said Reed.
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Rich
Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and
thecapitolfaxblog.com.