A reasoned response

Barack Obama has released a "Statement of Principles" which outlines provisions which must be part of the Wall Street mortgage bailout. While I encourage you to read the entire statement, here are the core principles.

• No blank check.
• Rescue requires mutual responsibility.
• Taxpayers should be protected.
• Help homeowners stay in their homes.
• A global response.
• Main Street, not just Wall Street.
• Build a regulatory structure for the 21st Century.

Although these principles are specific to the bailout, I think they pretty well reflect Obama's general mindset regarding the relationship between government, business and U.S. citizens. It's also the calm, deliberate, reasoned response I think we could expect from Obama when facing any situation as President.

And just yesterday, the Illinois State Senate voted 55-0 to overturn Governor Blagojevich's veto of an ethics reform bill. Going forward, all businesses which have or are seeking contracts in excess of $50,000 with the state are banned from making campaign contributions to the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller. This legislation is a great first step toward cleaning up the "pay to play" cesspool that is Illinois state politics. Senate President Emil Jones, an ally of Blagojevich, had been dragging his heels on calling for a vote on the veto override, indicating it would take place in November at the earliest. But a prodding phone call from none other than Barack Obama finally pushed Jones into calling for an immediate roll call vote. And based on the unanimous vote, it's clear that the Senate was fully in favor of this ethics reform, with Jones being the only obstacle.

In an overwhelming rebuke of scandal-tarred Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois lawmakers on Monday approved the state's first ban on campaign donations from supporters seeking lucrative state contracts.

The 55-0 vote in the Senate came only days after Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama—stung by his own connections to Illinois' infamous culture of influence peddling—prodded Senate President Emil Jones (D- Chicago) into allowing an immediate roll call.

Blagojevich tried to force lawmakers to accept changes to the measure that he said would strengthen it. But advocates said he was really trying to kill their efforts to rein in his habit of raising money from people who get state business—a practice derided by many as "pay-to-play."

"Finally getting [the ban on] pay-to-play enacted is a huge victory for the people of Illinois who want honest and accountable government," said Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. She said the victory came even though Blagojevich "has gone out of his way on this bill to give it a body block every time you turn around."

See that? Obama makes good things happen.