Efforts to close one of the major loopholes in the campaign finance bill approved last year by the General Assembly floundered again in Springfield today. At the behest of House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), Democrats voted 64-46 to bottle up a bill (HB 5008) in the House Rules Committee that would have limited the contributions political parties and legislative caucuses can make during the general election cycle. It was authored by House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). The senate is scheduled to hold a hearing next week on a companion bill (SB 2532) offered by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago).