It seems odd to use the words “ethics reform” in the same sentence as “Illinois legislature,” and to be sure, the ethics reform bill that the legislature gave final passage to Monday leaves a lot to be desired.

But as Dr. Johnson said about a dog walking on his hind legs, “It is not done well, but you are surprised to find it done at all.”

On a 55-0 vote, the Illinois Senate — with a back-door assist from the former senator from the 13th district who’s gone on to other things — overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s amendatory veto of House Bill 824, the “pay-to-play” reform bill. Inasmuch as the House two weeks ago voted 110-3 to override the veto, the reform becomes law.

After Jan. 1, it will be illegal for individuals or businesses that do more than $50,000 in state business to give campaign contributions to statewide officeholders who parcel out contracts. Mostly that’s the governor, though a few contracts are handled by other state officials.

The bill is a major rebuke to Mr. Blagojevich, who richly deserves it. Like his shamed and imprisoned Republican predecessor, George Ryan, Mr. Blagojevich raked in millions in contributions from companies and individuals doing business with the state.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko, one of Mr. Blagojevich’s top fundraisers, was convicted in June on federal bribery and corruption charges in a trial in which the governor’s name was invoked repeatedly. Because Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama also received campaign contributions and had business dealings with Mr. Rezko, the presidential campaign of Republican John McCain has sought to paint Mr. Obama as a product of the same sleazy Chicago political culture as Mr. Rezko.

So Mr. Obama, who vaulted from Illinois 13th senatorial district to the U.S. Senate just four years ago, recently had a word with his old friend and patron, state Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago. Mr. Jones, a close ally of Mr. Blagojevich, had been threatening to delay Senate consideration of the override of HB 824. After speaking with Mr. Obama, Mr. Jones moved the bill to the floor.

The odd thing is, Mr. Blagojevich’s amendatory veto actually strengthened HB 824, which passed in May. His version of the bill would have extended fundraising limits to legislators as well as statewide officeholders. It would have imposed new lobbying restrictions and forbidden legislators from holding government jobs.

In Illinois, nothing is as it seems: Mr. Blagojevich knew his “strengthened” bill didn’t have a prayer of passing. It was a cynical move to kill the bill by improving it to death. Mr. Blagojevich, who, despite his links to Mr. Rezko, is widely expected to seek a third term in 2010, should now play the “Nixon to China card.”

The king of pay-to-play should introduce sweeping ethics reform and do his best to embarrass the legislature into passing it. Sure it would be hard to believe, but what does he have to lose?

Even with the new pay-to-play restrictions in place, campaign finance laws in Illinois are a joke. People and businesses who want state contracts still can launder campaign donations through state party committees. Legislators still can hold government jobs and live high on lobbyists’ tabs. There are no limits on how much contributors can give to office-seekers. Judges still run in partisan elections, with businesses and trial lawyers contributing millions of dollars to judicial candidates.

The new law is a step in the right direction. But the state still has a long way to go.