Illinois Democrats allege Republican calls were illegal
Madigan Investigating Calls That Targeted State Democrats
[Illinois] State Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is investigating whether a telephone campaign paid for by House Republicans that targeted Democratic lawmakers violated state election rules.”We have received a complaint,” said Madigan spokeswoman Melissa Merz on Monday.
The campaign involved anonymous, automated calls to the constituents of House Democrats. The calls attacked the Democrats’ records and accused them of cutting veterans benefits, among other programs.
This is sloppy writing by the AP. Did the calls attack the record of the Illinois Democratic Party, or did it attack the record of individual Democrats? That is unclear from the article. This distinction makes all the difference. Section 9-9.5 of the Illinois Election Code provides that
Any political committee, organized under the Election Code, that makes an expenditure for a pamphlet, circular, handbill, Internet or telephone communication, radio, television, or print advertisement, or other communication directed at voters and mentioning the name of a candidate in the next upcoming election shall ensure that the name of the political committee paying for any part of the communication, including, but not limited to, its preparation and distribution, is identified clearly within the communication as the payor.
The Attorney General, widely known to have gubernatorial aspirations and daughter of the Democratic Speaker of the House, should disclose whether the calls are alleged to have mentioned the name of a candidate in the 2006 election. If so, an investigation is proper, although perhaps more fairly carried out by the State Board of Elections. If not, Madigan’s involvement is an improper attempt to harm Republicans in the upcoming election.
