Report Links Campaign Contributions To Smart Grid Votes
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform says ComEd and other backers of the newly passed and re-jiggered Smart Grid bill outspent opponents by a margin of four to one this year on campaign contributions at the state House.
As WBBM Newsradio's David Roe reports, a report by the group says utility companies made more than $867,000 worth of campaign contributions this year, compared to just over $185,000 from groups that lost the battle last week to stop the legislation.
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Illinois Campaign for Political Reform executive director Brian Gladstein told the Chicago Sun-Times that public policy should be about what is best for the state, not who gives the most campaign contributions.
The Smart Grid bill gives ComEd and Ameren automatic rate increases over a 10-year period. Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed the legislation earlier this year, but the Illinois Senate and House voted to override the veto last week. The "Smart Grid" bill will now become law on Jan. 1.
Critics said the bill would generate unfair profits and weaken state regulators, but ComEd and Ameren have said it would improve service and reduce service interruptions and weather-related power outages.
