Although it doesn't look like it will become law any time soon, the Illinois Senate approved a slapdash measure last week that would ban lawmakers from holding other government jobs.

The idea is the brainchild of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who claims these so-called "double-dippers" put the interest of other governments - read Chicago City Hall - in front of state government.

The way the legislation is worded, however, is puzzling and, perhaps, unconstitutional.

It would exempt certain public sector employees from the ban. Firefighters, police officers, public school teachers and school counselors would be allowed to serve as lawmakers.

University professors could keep their jobs if they are elected to the General Assembly.

The twist is in what's not exempted. You can be a university professor, but the proposal doesn't exempt community college instructors.

Nor does it exempt janitors at City Hall, nurses at the county health clinic or bus drivers for local transit districts. Same for snow plow drivers, university power plant workers and prison guards. The list goes on.

Apparently, the governor would like more lawyers and independently wealthy people to make laws for the rest of us.

What's even more confusing is that the "double-dipper" provision doesn't work in reverse.

In other words, members of the Blagojevich administration are allowed to keep their jobs and serve on units of local government.

For example, Illinois Department of Natural Resources administrator Leslie Sgro is a member of the Springfield Park District Board. The park district applies for and accepts grants from the agency Sgro works for.

The legislation appears to be dead on arrival in the House, but that didn't stop the governor from trumpeting the plan last week as a major step in cleaning up conflicts of interest in state government.

PAYING TO PLAY: Despite Blagojevich's meddling, lawmakers did successfully ban statewide officeholders from accepting big donations from state contractors last week.

The aim is to end the pay-to-play politics that have dominated the headlines since Blagojevich took office in 2003.

But, under the current setup, the measure doesn't affect any Republicans. That's because no member of the GOP holds a statewide office.

Senate President Emil Jones, however, said Republicans should hold out hope that someday the ban would affect them.

"It may be in the year 2100," the Chicago Democrat quipped last week.

BURYING EVIDENCE: Secrecy within the Blagojevich administration has gotten so rampant that some behavior is bordering on illegal.

Take a taxpayer-paid study of the state's prison system as an example. Attempts to get copies of the study took nearly a year while the Illinois Department of Corrections hid behind the technicalities of the state's Freedom of Information Act to keep the document from becoming public.

Not only were reporters stonewalled, but the state's largest employees union wasn't able to get a copy. In one case, a top union official was told the report would be available in March.

When the agency's hand was finally forced in September, officials relented and handed over copies of the voluminous report.

Upon reading it, there was little doubt why they were trying to keep it secret: The report refutes much of what the agency is saying about a need to close prisons.

STAMP OF APPROVAL? If state Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle, is poised to become director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Blagojevich isn't saying.

Ace Springfield bureau reporter Mike Riopell waited in the basement catacombs of the Capitol this week for a chance to ask Blagojevich about a number of issues. He caught the governor as he exited the statehouse through his normal back loading dock door.

Along with inquiring about the governor's plan to close state parks and historic sites, Riopell asked if Blagojevich was planning to appoint Granberg, who is retiring as a lawmaker in January, as director of the gutted agency.

"I have the greatest regard for Kurt Granberg," Blagojevich said. "He would do great at anything he wants to do. So let's see where we are and see where this goes. But Kurt's a good man."

SUMMING IT UP: State government is more than $2 billion in debt. Ethical questions are flying around the governor. Democrats who control state government continue to bicker.

What's it all mean?

"We've lost the faith of the people of this state," said state Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine.

Couldn't have said it better.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865