The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges related to Blagojevich’s alleged attempts to solicit favors in exchange for an appointment to President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat has drawn new attention to ethical lapses in the political appointment process. In the indictment against Blagojevich, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald accused the governor of indulging in “pay-to-play” politics, a practice some political pundits say is commonplace.
What steps can be taken — such as mandatory sentences in federal corruption cases, better ethics education for public officials or increased whistleblower protection — to curb pay-to-play politics?

Please send your responses to Ed Brock at edward.brock@penton.com. Include your name, title and the organization with which you work. American City & County will print some of the responses.

See how readers responded to the November Platform question: Do you think it was appropriate to add extra appropriation items to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008?