SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn called it a "great day" for Illinois and all but promised to sign campaign finance legislation lawmakers approved Friday.

Quinn wanted the legislation as the political climax of what he's billing as the "year of reform" that began with Rod Blagojevich's ouster from the governor's office and Quinn's ascension to the post. Quinn said he lobbied lawmakers in support of the proposal.

"It's a historic day for Illinois," he told reporters. "I think the reforms will serve the people well."

The restrictions on who can give how much to candidates are the first of their kind in the state. Supporters said they'd put Illinois among the nation's leaders on campaign finance reform.

But critics - mostly Republicans - called the plan an empty promise that falls far short of its intended goal and could end up further concentrating political power and cash in the hands - and bank accounts - of a select few.

"This is not good enough," said state Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican.

Republican lawmakers are still stinging over the surprise move by government reform groups to strike a deal with Democrats on the campaign restrictions, a deal that doesn't limit legislative leader and political party giving in the high-priced fall general elections.

The coalition of government groups called Change Illinois! had held out for such general election limits for weeks, and Republicans had become closely aligned with the group, going so far as to rely on its members to keep them appraised of what was happening in closed-door talks with the Democrats who control state government.

"Any proposal not fully endorsed by Change Illinois! will not have my support," House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego recently told the Daily Herald.

But on Thursday the reform group gave up on limiting leadership giving in general elections and endorsed the plan put forth by Democrats that imposes those restrictions only in the primary. The group's representatives said they'll keep fighting in future sessions to expand the limits but called the current deal a significant step forward.

Republicans accused the group of selling out while Democrats, now brandishing the reformers' endorsement, approved the first campaign limits in Illinois and chided Republicans for waffling.

"Either they (the reformers) had credibility or they do not," state Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, said to Republicans during the Senate debate. "Either you have credibility or you do not. Stay consistent."

But don't look for any major changes to campaigning anytime soon. Even with the governor's support the proposals target the 2012 elections, not the upcoming campaigns. Supporters said if limits were enacted today it would help incumbents who tend to already have healthy campaign accounts to the detriment of new challengers who've yet to hit the fundraising circuit.

Currently, there are no limits on how much someone can donate to a campaign and six-figure contributions are not uncommon in select races. That would largely end under this plan. The donors to candidates and political parties would face newfound restrictions on the checks they write.

An individual would be limited to donating $5,000 to candidates, $10,000 to political parties and $10,000 to political action committees.

Businesses and unions would be limited to donating $10,000 to candidates, $20,000 to political parties, legislative leader committees and political action committees.

Candidate political committees would be limited to donating $50,000 to other candidates and political action committees.

Political parties and legislative leader committees would be limited in primary elections to donating $200,000 to statewide candidates, $125,000 for state Senate candidates, $75,000 for state House races. The limits would also apply to county and judicial races.

Cross, the Republican leader, sent the governor a letter asking him to use his veto powers to broaden the reform legislation. Quinn said that was unlikely.

With the campaign finance plan on its way to the governor's desk, lawmakers adjourned their fall session. They are not scheduled back at the Capitol until January.