Boost campaign finance laws

The Herald-News, Joliet, Ill.: Money seems to play a bigger role in political campaigns than it ever has before. Yet the state of Illinois places few restrictions on political donations and seems to take little interest in making candidates comply with contribution disclosure rules.

The most recent example is the case of Eric Kellogg, whose campaign committee only recently released three years’ worth of reports on donations to his campaign fund.

Kellogg’s campaign committee might be the most blatant offender, but his three-year delinquency — which likely would have continued indefinitely were it not for the news coverage — is indicative of just how little effort goes into enforcing campaign disclosure laws.

Our state’s laws on political contributions are fairly loose — individuals may not contribute more than $5,300 to a single candidate, businesses max out at $10,500, political committees and political action committees can give as much as $52,600. Candidates and their families can make unlimited contributions to their campaign committee.

Campaign disclosure laws need not be draconian ... but they also should not be so toothless that they can be flouted with impunity.

Public exposure of neglect in filing disclosures, either through news reporting or other means, can create public pressure for something to be done. But another powerful incentive for people to follow the rules is to have real penalties in place if the rules are broken.

Knowing who supports local and statewide candidates for office is another step toward open and honest government.