Senate President Don Harmon gives back red-light camera company’s campaign cash after Sun-Times report

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon backed a law passed in May to ban campaign contributions from the red-light camera industry. Less than six weeks later, he accepted two contributions totaling $5,000 from Redspeed Illinois, a contractor operating red-light cameras in a number of Chicago-area municipalities. (Justin L. Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP)

Asked about accepting campaign contributions from a red-light camera contractor weeks after backing a bill prohibiting politicians from accepting money from the troubled industry, a spokesman for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said this on Oct. 17:

“In the past 20 years, every single campaign-finance reform enacted into law has been an effort Senate President Harmon has sponsored, initiated or vigorously supported. He maintains the highest ethical standards and will continue to do so.”