Pay to Play Lives!

Thank goodness! We thought we might have to actually ask for an appointment:

• In the midst of Gov. Pat Quinn’s drive for political reform, his campaign has been using the last weeks of the legislative session to try to set up fundraisers where major interest groups can have some “face time” with the governor and discuss their issues with him, sources said today.

  Executives for two major trade associations, who asked that their names not be used to keep from jeopardizing pending legislation, said they had been called within the past week by a Quinn political operative and told that the governor was making time available to meet with them.

  One of the trade association executives said today his group received a call Thursday from Quinn’s political operation, seeking a $15,000 fundraiser. The other association executive said his group was called a week ago.

Chicago (and Illinois) truly ain't ready for reform. Feds everywhere, one governor in jail, another on the way and this guy is still strong arming businesses for money. Government for sale. Priceless.