Elections: July 2008 Archives

BY MIKE CETERA

Anyone donating to a political candidate expects something in return, no matter if it's a business or an individual, which is what makes this pay-to-play talk so complicated.

Is it OK to accept a contribution from someone who opposes abortion, knowing they expect you to do something about that clinic in town? Aren't they paying for some expected response -- even if it goes against the better financial interests of the city?

Is this different than the company that has contracts with the city (even though there's a sealed bidding process in many cases) making a donation? Are they trying to buy more contracts -- once again -- against the better financial interests of the city?

I'm not sure.

This brings me to the latest D-2s, which offer few surprises: Many of the ususual supporters of Tom Weisner are there. Weisner predictably raised much more money than his presumptive opponents, Stephanie Kifowit and Rick Lawrence.

BY MIKE CETERA

Who isn't for a capital program (in concept at least)? A balanced budget? Property tax relief? An end to political corruption (or the appearance thereof)?

The problem for House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), who according to the Sun-Times, plans to unveil next week a GOP "Agenda for Action," isn't his ideas, it's getting voters to believe he or his party can actually execute them.