No special treatment? What’s the world coming to?
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once joked — it’s called kidding on the square — that Americans will always do the right thing … after they’ve tried everything else.
That thought came to mind recently when Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, a suburban Chicago Democrat, filed an appeal of a $9.8 million fine imposed by the state elections board for violating state campaign funding law.
Harmon, acting through his lawyer Michael Casper, argued that his actions were, in fact, legal and that lawyers for the elections board misinterpreted state law.
Maybe, maybe not. The public will eventually see one side prevail. If the ruling goes against Harmon, the board would be well advised to reduce the size of the fine.
A $9.8 million levy, considering the circumstances, is way over the top.
The point is that Harmon is finally following the legally appropriate process.
That is in stark contrast to just a few weeks ago when Harmon tried to embrace the Illinois way of making his legal troubles go away: He attempted to slip a proposal into the legislative process that — if approved — would retroactively make his actions compliant with the law.
It was just too bad for him that House Democrats, not wanting to take a hit for approving Harmon’s self-serving action, declined to support his effort to legislate away the alleged violations and massive fine.
Of course, who can blame a politician for trying? They, better than anyone, know how the game is played.
This is, after all, Illinois. What’s the point of having power if the powerful can’t abuse it for selfish purposes?
Harmon’s attempted legislative flim-flam involved a loophole in fundraising law. The provision in question is meant to help candidates competing with wealthy opponents who use their vast personal wealth to self-finance their campaigns.
Under the rule, if a candidate in a particular race donates more than $100,000 to other candidates, even including the purported wealthy candidate, they are allowed to raise unlimited funds.
This loophole was no accident. It was intended to game a law while at the same time fooling the public into thinking there are real rules regarding fundraising.
Harmon busted the $100,000 cap himself. He donated $100,001 in January 2023, allowing him to accept unlimited sums from donors. The election board alleges that he then raised more than $4 million.
The specific violation, according to the board, is that Harmon was only allowed to raise unlimited funds through the March 2024 primary, not through the November 2024 election, as Harmon did. His lawyer insists the law allowed Harmon’s fundraising through the general election.
This is real inside baseball involving statutory interpretations. Given the highly partisan nature of the eight-member elections board — four Democrats, four Republicans — it is fair to suspect nothing much will come of it.
What has been indisputably revealed — again — is the lengths those in power will go to feather their own nests.
In this case, Harmon’s plan to legislate his problems away ran aground. Now he’s being treated like any ordinary citizen who gets crossways with a state bureaucracy.
Just imagine the outrage Harmon must feel.
