Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Congratulations, Rep. Mike Fortner

2009-06-18T14:18:00.000-05:00

The Ohio Redistricting Competition announced the winners of their contest to develop a new method of drawing district boundaries, and Illinois State Rep. Mike Fortner is one of three winners.

The Competition, sponsored by the Ohio Secretary of State's office and several civic organizations, sought new processes for creating fair legislative boundaries, aimed to satisfy these criteria: Compactness, Communities of Interest, Competitiveness., and Representational Fairness.

Click here for more details.

ICPR Says Court Ruling Shows Need for Public Financing

2009-06-08T14:39:00.002-05:00

Today in a 5-4 ruling in Caperton v. Massey, the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged the harmful effects large campaign contributions have in the judicial system, when it ruled Monday that elected judges must recuse themselves from cases where outsized contributions they received can create the appearance of bias.

This decision shows that the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes that outsized campaign contributions and special interest money can create the appearance of bias in the judicial system.

“The Caperton case is about the conflict of interest that arises when judicial candidates benefit from large campaign contributions and special interest group spending,” said Cynthia Canary, the executive director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “Every person or group which comes before a court deserves a fair and impartial judiciary, and that’s endangered when special interest groups spend huge amounts of money to influence judicial campaigns.”

Caperton v. Massey centers around a $50-million verdict against Massey Energy Co. , which the coal company appealed.

A the same time that Massey was appealing the verdict against it, Massey's Chief Executive spent $3 million in personal funds to support a West Virginia State Supreme Court candidate, Brent Benjamin, who was challenging an incumbent member of the Court. That $3 million was more than the total amount spent by all other Benjamin supporters.

After winning election to the state Supreme Court, Justice Benjamin refused to recuse himself from deciding the appeal involving the verdict against Massey. Benjamin joined a 3-2 majority to overturn the verdict against his campaign’s biggest financial supporter.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Monday ruling said that Benjamin should not have participated in that ruling.

ICPR joined a national coalition of concerned groups, including Justice At Stake, Appleseed, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, in an amicus curiae brief asserting that Benjamin should not have participated in the decision involving Massey.

The problematic situation outlined in Caperton v. Massey is not unexpected nor unfamiliar in Illinois. Across the country, the amount of money special interest groups are pouring into judicial campaigns is increasing, and Illinois has been no exception.

States’ Supreme Court candidates have raised more than $168 million in campaign contributions between 2000 and 2007, according to an analysis by Justice At Stake.

In 2004, Illinois served as host to the most expensive state Supreme Court campaign in history, when groups spent a combined $9.3 million in the 5th Judicial District. Two years later, an Illinois Appellate Court campaign broke state records when parties spent a jaw-dropping $3.35 million on the campaign.

These staggering figures show why Illinois must create a judicial public financing system, Canary said.

“Judicial public financing remains the best way to avoid the question of bias altogether, because it allows candidates to run for office without relying on contributions from special interest groups.”

ICPR supports SB 2144/HB 2631, a bill that would create a judicial public financing system in Illinois. Judicial public financing passed the Illinois Senate in each of the last three legislative sessions, but has never been called for a vote in the House.

Instead of creating a judicial public financing system, the General Assembly this year established a task force to study the issue, leaving Illinois’ courts open to abuse by special interest groups for the foreseeable future. The task force is scheduled to report to the governor in 2012.

With the nation’s highest court now acknowledging the conflict that campaign contributions can have on the courts, ICPR urges the General Assembly to take more immediate action on judicial public financing.

Blago Bio

2009-06-08T09:45:00.002-05:00

Elizabeth Brackett's recent book on Rod Blagojevich's time as Governor, "Pay to Play -- How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow," was the subject of a panel at the Printers Row Lit Fest over the weekend. Panel leader Eric Zorn has posted an mp3 of his conversation with Brackett on his blog. Give it a listen; it's 45 minutes well spent.

ICPR SAYS MUCH MORE WORK NEEDED ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS LEGISLATION

2009-05-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

HOUSE BILL 7 IS FULL OF LOOPHOLES

Over the objections of reform advocates throughout the state, the Illinois Senate on Thursday approved a bill (HOUSE BILL 7) to establish contribution limits but with so many loopholes that the legislation is "limits" in name only.

Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), issued the following statement:

“The disappointing Senate action should not be rubberstamped by the House,” said Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR). “This phony reform should be blocked, and reform-minded legislators should insist on filling the loopholes created by the Senate.”

ICPR and the CHANGE Illinois! coalition have advocated real reform modeled after the federal system of campaign limits -- $2,400 limit on individual contributions, $5,000 limit on PAC, business and union contributions and a $30,000 limit on contribution from legislative leadership PACs to legislative candidates.

SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HOUSE BILL 7

NO LIMIT ON IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: Not only are the dollar amounts of the limits high but there are no limits on "in-kind" contributions from one candidate's committee to another. That means legislative leaders could use campaign funds to hire staff, pay for commercials and send direct mail on behalf of candidates. None of those would be covered by a contribution limit. It has the potential to exempt millions of dollars from the limits.

ANNUAL (CALENDAR YEAR) vs. ELECTION CYCLE LIMITS: Because the federal system uses election cycles of primary and general elections, officeholders and challengers are treated the same. But the Senate bill would set limits -- $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a PAC, business or union -- on a calendar year basis. That protects incumbents. For example, using the federal system, a governor and challenger could each get no more than two maximum contributions in a four-year period. But under the calendar year system, sitting governors could collect the maximum level in each of the governor's four years in office. Because challengers usually don't gear up for campaigning and fundraising until about two years before the election, a challenger could collect the limit from a contributor only twice before the general election. That's a potential 2-to-1 advantage for an incumbent.

TRANSFERS FROM LEADERS' (AND OTHERS') COMMITTEES: Any candidate for any office in Illinois could transfer up to $90,000 in cash to another candidate's committee. There are so many potential transfers of funds from committee to committee that it would be easy for legislative leaders to maneuver millions of dollars to targeted candidates. The end result would be the same as exists today.

ENFORCEMENT: Enforcement of campaign finance laws would remain extremely weak in Illinois. We had recommended the State Board of Elections be directed to make random audits of campaign committees to determine whether they were disclosing the contributions and expenditures required by law. The Senate bill would only give the State Board of Elections the ability to order an audit when a committee failed to file a quarterly report two times in a calendar year.

Real, Meaningful Contribution Limits

2009-05-22T15:12:00.002-05:00

Newspapers around the state have reviewed the Senate Democrats' campaign reform proposals, and found nothing to like. Setting caps that are as much as 6 times what the federal limits are and allowing unfettered transfers from parties and caucuses is not reform. But don't take it from us. The Daily Herald calls their ideas "practically meaningless." The Sun-Times calls it a "ruse." The Peoria Journal Star says it's "a deal breaker." And the Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus say "a better proposal is HB 24/SB 1768." Read for youself:

The Daily Herald (May 22, 2009) -- "The anti-corruption groups support donation limits per election cycle of $2,400 from individuals. That means that in a four-year Senate term, someone could give a Senate candidate a total of $4,800 for the primary and general elections. But the Senate plan just unveiled would allow for $10,000 donations every calendar year, or a total of $40,000 to a candidate in a four-year term. Even more alarming, Harmon's plan, so far, has no limit whatsoever on the contributions legislative leaders can make to candidates. That key lack of a limit on leadership contributions makes the Senate plan to cap campaign contributions practically meaningless."

The Peoria Journal Star (May 22, 2009) -- "But ultimately any progress here is undone with no ceilings being imposed on the largesse of legislative leaders, and might be a step backward. If you believe as we do that the speaker of the House and the Senate president have too much muscle now, this arguably would give them more, making rank-and-file members even more dependent on them while tying up the wallets of others. It's tantamount to no reform at all; as such, a deal-breaker."

The Moline Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus (May 21, 2009) -- "To discourage corruption and loosen the four tops" stranglehold, we urge leadership to call for and lawmakers to demand new limits on government corruption with a 'yes' vote on HB24 and SB1768."

The Chicago Sun-Times (May 22, 2009) -- "Madigan, Cullerton, et al, have decided they might be willing to enact campaign contribution limits on individuals, businesses and unions -- but limits that are so high and generous they would be virtually meaningless. And, of course, Madigan, Cullerton, et al, show absolutely no willingness to limit their own ability to shower money on their fellow politicians."

ICPR agrees with these newspapers. Limits must be meaningful and comprehensive. Setting limits that are too high will do nothing to prevent officials from laundering payoffs through their campaign funds -- or from looking like that's what they are doing. Allowing unlimited transfers from parties and caucuses turns them into washing machines for contributors who have maxed out their donations to particular officials. Grousing and grumbling aside, it works at the federal level. It's time Illinois joined the modern world.

If you agree, speak up! Contact your elected representative by calling 1-800-719-3020. Send them an e-mail by going here. Scheduled adjournment is barely a week away. Now is the time to be heard.

CHANGE Illinois! Tells General Assembly Not To Play Games

2009-05-20T13:56:00.001-05:00

Campaign Contribution Limits Must Cover Legislative Leaders

The CHANGE Illinois! coalition on Wednesday called on legislators to enact meaningful limits on campaign contributions from everyone, including political action committees controlled by the four legislative leaders.

“Illinois’ wide open campaign finance system allows large contributors to drown out the voices of everyday Illinoisans and is part of the reason Illinois has a much deserved reputation for corruption in government,” said Peter Bensinger, former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and a co-chair of the CHANGE Illinois! coalition. “With one former governor in federal prison and another facing an array of deplorable charges, voters are fed up and weary of the foot-dragging in the General Assembly.

“We call on legislators to enact meaningful reform,” he continued. “Limits must be set on how much money the four legislative leaders can collect and pass on to candidates of their choice. These war chests subvert the will of individual voters. Without limits on transfers, Illinois won't have real reform.”

The top priority of members of CHANGE Illinois! is the establishment of campaign contribution limits similar to the federal system with a $2,400 limit on contributions by individuals, $5,000 limit on contributions by political action committees, and a maximum $30,000 limit on transfers from legislative leadership committees to legislative candidates. The CHANGE Illinois! proposal is nearly identical to the proposal advocated by the Illinois Reform Commission, an independent group created by Gov. Pat Quinn and chaired by Patrick Collins, a former federal prosecutor.

At a press conference Wednesday, Collins and other IRC members joined with CHANGE Illinois! in an urgent call for General Assembly approval of meaningful campaign contribution limits, and leaders of CHANGE Illinois! commended Collins and the IRC for its efforts on behalf of reform.

“With less than two weeks left in the spring legislative session, there has been some talk about limiting campaign contributions, but there hasn’t been any action,” said Deborah Harrington, President of the Woods Fund of Chicago and a co-chair of the CHANGE Illinois! coalition. “There have been discussions in committee rooms and hallways, but it is not clear whether legislators will even take a vote on this important reform.”

“Illinois is in the spotlight, and the world is watching to see whether we will change the rules that have contributed to the corruption that has embarrassed this state,” said George Ranney, President and CEO of Chicago Metropolis 2020 and a co-chair of the CHANGE Illinois! coalition. “Comprehensive limits on contributions, combined with more frequent public reporting of contributions and strengthened oversight of campaign finance laws, would put Illinois on the road to real reform.”

Launched in late February, CHANGE Illinois! is a coalition of civic, business, labor, professional, inter-faith, non-profit and philanthropic organizations aligned to bring government integrity to Illinois.

A list of members and additional information is available at www.ChangeIL.org.

We need reform like yesterday's editorials

2009-05-04T13:20:00.003-05:00

Anybody who's ever run for office will tell you that newspaper editorials don't vote; editorial writers, maybe, editorial readers, maybe, but editorials themselves represent only one thoughtful opinion. But with so many thoughtful pieces reaching the same conclusion, you'd think that conclusion had some merit:

This morning's New York Times expressed surprise that "Illinois’s statehouse bosses are hemming and hawing" about the prospects for reform and urged votes on the recommendations of the Illinois Reform Commission

The Chicago Tribune blasts the legislature for doing so little so many months after the Blagojevich arrest (and separately blasts Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie for making reform into a partisan issue)

If you agree with these editorials, you can do something the newspapers cannot: You can speak as a constituent to your elected official.

ICPR offers three ways to help you do this. Visitors to our website can now enter their address and instantly send e-mail to their legislators. We launch the feature with a letter on a topic near and dear to our hearts -- campaign finance reform -- and plan to add new letters in the weeks ahead. Customize the letter all you want; speak your mind. Your concerns will be delivered directly to your legislators!

Our website also directs visitors to a toll-free number (800-719-3020) to call your legislators, and to a petition. So many ways to make sure your representatives know what views you want them to represent!

PUBLIC RALLY CALLS FOR AN END TO CORRUPTION IN ILLINOIS POLITICS

2009-04-09T14:11:00.000-05:00

Voters, Public join Civic, Business, Religious & Non-Profit Groups in Chicago to CHANGE Illinois!

Mere steps from indicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s office, hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago today with a simple message: “We’ve had enough!” Voters joined with civic and business leaders, religious and non-profit groups for a public CHANGE Illinois! rally calling for an end to corruption in Illinois politics.

“Corruption in Illinois has turned us from the land of Lincoln to a national laughingstock,” said Rev. Patricia Watkins, Executive Director of Target Area Development Corp. “We need to take special interest money out of Illinois politics – the people deserve to get their voices back.”

The rally, organized by CHANGE Illinois!, focused on the need to clean up Illinois politics now. Rally speakers drove home the need for political reform and urged the General Assembly to take action, including: Rev. Patricia Watkins, Executive Director of TARGET Area Development Corp.; Rami Nashashibi, Inner City Muslim Action Network, Executive Director; Merri Dee, AARP Illinois State President; Peter Bensinger, Chicago business leader and former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Enlace Chicago, Executive Director; and Rev. Philip Blackwell, Senior Minister of First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple.

“On behalf of AARP’s nearly 2 million in Illinois, I can say we’re tired of politics as usual standing in the way of progress as it should be,” said Merri Dee, State President for AARP. “The people of Illinois need to stand up and demand that things change.”

CHANGE Illinois! has launched a statewide campaign to end the culture of corruption in Illinois politics. The coalition’s first priority is take large donations out of Illinois campaign through enacting strict campaign contribution limits. The coalition has been taking the message to communities across the state, setting up the CHANGE Illinois! Hotline (1-800-719-3020) to connect voters to their state lawmakers to urge them to help put an end to pay-to-play politics. Illinois is one of only four states with no limits on political campaign contributions.

“Unless people throughout Illinois contact their legislators and demand change, we’re going to see even more waste and corruption in our government,” Peter Bensinger, Co-Chair of CHANGE Illinois!, said. “If we can’t change the way government does business in Illinois, corporate leaders are going to think twice about doing business here.”

Since 1970, over 1000 Illinois public officials have been convicted of corruption, including 19 judges (serving half the state’s population), 30 Chicago Alderman, two Governors with a third now indicted and a former State Attorney General --- one conviction every other week.

For more information about the CHANGE Illinois! The Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics: www.ChangeIL.org

Now only 4 states have unregulated campaign finance systems

2009-04-03T14:30:00.002-05:00

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson yesterday signed into law a bill creating campaign contribution limits. They get reform. Now there are 46 states that regulate campaign contributions, and just 4 that are wide open.

And what did Illinois get yesterday? More proof that we need reform.

If you're fed up with business as usual, if the indictment of Rod Blagojevich reads like a rehash of old news, if you're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, then here's what you can do right now to make reform happen:

* Call 1-800-719-3020. This hotline, offered by CHANGE Illinois, will patch you through to your legislator's office, where you can voice your demand for reform of Illinois' political culture.

* Make plans to attend the rally at the James R. Thompson Center this Thursday, April 9 at 10 am.

ICPR AND SUNSHINE PROJECT REACT TO BLAGOJEVICH INDICTMENT

2009-04-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, issued the following statement:

“Rod Blagojevich was elected and then reelected governor based on the promise that he would reform and renew state government, but his government was more like an overloaded, malfunctioning sewage system. Now, it’s up to the elected leaders in Springfield to respond to the demands of the citizens of Illinois and clean up this mess. They should start by addressing the free flow of big campaign contributions from special interests. Limited campaign contributions and strong oversight of the campaign finance system would give the people of Illinois reason to believe their elected leaders are serious about changing the culture of corruption.”

Kent Redfield, Director of the Sunshine Project at the University of Illinois, issued the following statement:

“The political system in Illinois is broken and has been for decades. Removing Rod Blagojevich from office by impeachment and putting him on trial in a federal courtroom may teach him a lesson, but it will not reform Illinois. Major changes are required in the way Illinois polices lobbying and openness of government. But the first and most important change needed is to enact reasonable limits on the size of campaign contributions and strong enforcement of campaign finance laws.”

Calls for reform, getting louder

2009-04-01T13:29:00.002-05:00

The calls for campaign finance reform in Illinois are getting louder.

The Illinois Reform Commission, a special panel assembled by Gov. Pat Quinn to propose reform legislation, recommended today that the state enact campaign contribution limits and a host of other campaign finance, accountability and transparency measures.

The 15-member Commission called on legislative leaders to establish a set of campaign contribution limits similar to the limits that have been in place on the federal level for decades. Under the proposal, individuals would be restricted to giving $2,400 to any candidate, political party or political action committee. State political parties, corporations, unions and political action committees would be restricted by different sets of limits.

The panel also recommended:
- Giving the State Board of Elections greater enforcement powers,

- “Real Time” campaign finance reporting, so that every large campaign donation is made public year round,

- Creating new disclosure requirements independent expenditures,

- Banning lobbyists from donating to campaigns,

- Establishing a public financing pilot program for judicial elections/campaigns,

- Updating the state’s Freedom of Information Act to increase transparency and ensure the public has access to governmental records.

The Commission said it released the preliminary recommendations Tuesday to allow legislators and the public ample time to consider them.

To view all of the Commission’s interim recommendations, please visit http://reformillinoisnow.org/index.html

And when you're ready to make your own call, the number is 800-719-3020.

ICPR Finds Contract Lobbyists Were Paid $6 Million in Government Funds to Influence State Government

2009-03-30T14:28:00.004-05:00

But Private Sector Spending on Lobbying Remains a Secret in Illinois

Local governments and public agencies spent more than $6 million to hire professional lobbyists to influence Illinois state government last year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR).

The non-partisan organization calculated the price tag after analyzing FY2008 lobbying contracts awarded by 115 municipalities, transit agencies, public universities and other units of government which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

"Because Illinois has relatively weak laws to regulate lobbying activity and transparency, it’s impossible to know specifics about lobbyists’ work," said David Morrison, Deputy Director of ICPR and lead researcher and writer of the report. "Nor can the public know the cost of lobbying on behalf of private organizations that are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)."

There are more than 1,500 professional lobbyists paid to influence Illinois government. If it were not for FOIA, the public would have no idea how much money is involved. Most neighboring Midwestern states, and most large industrial states, provide the public with far more information about lobbying and lobbyists than does Illinois.

Morrison noted that the public knows even less about the tens of millions of dollars spent on lobbying by private special interest groups, such as corporations and labor unions, because their contracts are not public documents.

“There’s a lot of money flowing to lobbyists, private professionals who are paid to influence state policy,” Morrison said. “In most cases, we don’t know what these lobbyists are doing: who they’re talking to, what agenda items they’re pushing, and what they're trying to block.”

Illinois law requires lobbyists to disclose meals, gifts, and travel paid for by lobbyists. But what special interests pay lobbyists, and which clients are footing the bills for those meals, gifts, and travel, is a mystery.

Even worse, some of the lobbying firms hired by local governments did not comply with state ethics laws related to their work. Illinois law requires professional lobbyists to register with the Secretary of State and disclose their clients before performing work. ICPR found several who did not register themselves or their clients in a timely manner; some did not register themselves or their clients at all.

Morrison said ICPR’s analysis demonstrates the need for greater disclosure and more transparency as it relates to lobbying on the state level. He noted that the federal government, many other states and even Cook County and the City of Chicago have more comprehensive sunshine requirements for their lobbyists.

“Illinoisans are being kept in the dark about lobbying and how it affects their government,” Morrison said. “We need new laws mandating greater transparency so that the public can get a better handle on how their taxpayer dollars are being spent and how special interest groups are influencing their government.”

This is ICPR's second report on lobbying expenditures by units of governments. The report covering FY2007 found $5 million in spending. Among the 96 units of governments in both reports, total spending on lobbying grew 15% since last year.

The report recommends changes to Illinois' Lobbyist Registration Act, including:

• All lobbyists, whether representing a government or private entity, should be required to disclose the terms of lobbying contracts, including financial arrangements.
• Lobbyists hiring other lobbyists as subcontractors should disclose whether the subcontractors are lobbying for all or only some of the primary lobbyist’s clients.
• Units of government should be required to acknowledge that they have hired a lobbyist.
• There should be a "cooling-off period" between the time a government employee or official leaves public service and his or her engagement as a lobbyist targeting former colleagues.
• The Secretary of State should have the clear authority to audit lobbyist disclosure reports and punish violators.

Check out the full report here.

For additional information, please visit www.ilcampaign.org or call 312-335-1767.

New Mexico Sends Contribution Limits Measure to Governor

2009-03-22T17:01:00.002-05:00

Bill Richardson Expected to Sign
Soon only 4 States will have Wide-Open Campaign Finance Systems

Late last Friday, the New Mexico House of Representative gave final approval to a bill to create a system of campaign contribution limits. The proposal would prohibit donations to statewide candidates in excess of $5,000 per election from individuals and $10,000 from political committees. Non—statewide candidates would be barred from receiving more than $2,300 per election from individuals and $5,000 from committees.

The measure was filed at the behest of Gov. Bill Richardson, who has indicated that he will sign it.

New Mexico is currently one of only 5 states with no limits at all on campaign donations; Illinois is another. Contribution limits proposal are pending in the Illinois General Assembly: HB 24, SB 1768 and SB 1604. Call your legislator to tell them you don’t want to have to move to New Mexico to find legislators willing to tackle this problem. Call 800-719-3020 today and call for change.

ASK LEGISLATORS TO LIMIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTONS

2009-03-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

DIAL 1-800-719-3020

The CHANGE Illinois coalition on Monday opened a toll-free hotline for Illinoisans to call 1-800-719-3020 and tell their legislators to enact campaign contribution limits.

Callers to the CHANGE Illinois Hotline will be connected directly to their state legislators.

“Large campaign contributions in Illinois are muting the voice of the public and preventing real progress on the issues that matter,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. “Enough is enough – we need campaign contribution limits now. The people deserve to get their voice back.”

AARP is reaching out to its nearly 2 million members across Illinois asking them to call the hotline and urge their legislators to stop the flow of special interest money into Springfield. The number also will be featured in an upcoming article in the AARP Bulletin publication which is sent to all AARP members in the state.

Launched in late February, CHANGE Illinois is a coalition of civic, business, professional, non-profit and philanthropic organizations aligned to bring government integrity to Illinois. The coalition includes many civic leaders and organizations, including AARP, the Chicago Urban League, The Civic Federation, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the Latino Policy Forum.

“Removing one person from office does not solve the problem,” said Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “Unlimited campaign contributions have led to wasteful spending, altered the power structure and distorted the debate of issues in Springfield.”

Canary pointed out that the federal election system limits contributions to candidates and 45 other states have laws limiting contributions.

“Limiting contributions is not all that is needed to make our government fair and honest, but it is a very important step,” Canary said. “Contribution limits will help make state government more representative of Illinoisans and more responsive to all citizens.”

Campaign Finance Reform -- Really

2009-03-10T16:33:00.002-05:00

Not one, not two, but three different Chicago newspapers ran opinion pieces recently in favor of campaign finance reform, joining a growing chorus in support of fixing our broken political system.

Crain's took a look at "the corruption that has come to define Illinois" and concluded, "Illinois can reclaim its dignity by curbing the flow of campaign cash that pollutes our politics and government."

The Sun-Times wrote, "with our state in post-impeachment crisis, now is the time for Springfield lawmakers to enact meaningful campaign contribution limits." The Sun-Times also observed, "In theory, public disclosure … discourages dirty dealings. In practice, we've seen how well that has worked."

And in the Tribune, former First Chicago NBD CEO Richard Thomas noted, "illegal practices that are discouraged abroad are tolerated here in Illinois." And he argued "placing limits on campaign contributions would be a good place to start."

Support for campaign finance reform is growing outside of the Capitol. Former Executive Ethics Commission Chairman Scott Turow recently told the legislative Joint Committee on Government Reform, in a hearing on transparency, that he believes that campaign finance reform is "indispensable," even asserting, "our state will continue to be perceived as an ethical swamp, both in Illinois and outside of it, unless we prohibit unlimited campaign donations." A broad coalition of business, civic, and non-profit groups, including ICPR, recently formed, calling itself CHANGE Illinois.

To date, 20 House members have signed on as sponsors of HB 24, a measure to reform campaign finance. Similar legislation in the Senate, SB 1768, has a smaller but growing list of sponsors.

Legislators need to hear your voices. Contact your House and Senate members and tell them what you think of our current political crisis. Now is the time for people to speak up.

March Forth

2009-03-04T10:23:00.004-06:00

Today is March Fourth, one of my favorite days of the year, the only day that is also a verb. And in that spirit, we offer the following advice for Illinoisans who are tired of business as usual in state government. The State Journal-Register editorialized over the weekend on the prospects for reform, noting, "Never has there been a more fertile time for political reform in Illinois government." The good news is that legislators are lining up to tout their support for reform bills. The bad news? It's March, not May, and nothing has passed yet. Reform is possible, and maybe even more likely now than usual, but mark our words -- nothing will happen unless voters demand it.

If you believe in reform and you have not yet called your legislators to tell them to support campaign reform, then pick up the phone already. Now is the time. And there are many, many opportunities in the coming weeks for you to make your views known. Write a letter. Make a phone call. Attend a hearing. Join a coalition. Do all these things. But do it now. Here's how to get involved:

* The SJ-R editorial offers advice on how to contact your public officials, including this information for the legislative leaders.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago
327 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-2728
john@senatorcullerton.com
www.senatorcullerton.com

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-5350

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego
316 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-1331
tom@tomcross.com
www.tomcross.com

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont
309A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
782-9407
cradogno@sbcglobal.net
www.senatorradogno.org

* Join a Coalition
Civic, non-profit and business leaders came together last week to announce a new reform coalition, CHANGE Illinois. The group, which includes ICPR, has launched a new website, www.changeil.org. Co-chairs include former DEA Administrator Peter Bensinger, Woods Fund President Deborah Harrington, and Chicago Metropolis 20/20 CEO George Ranney. At the launch, the group called for campaign contribution limits and more powers and resources for the State Board of Elections. To get involved, please visit their website.

* Attend a hearing
The legislative Joint Committee on Government Reform has cancelled tomorrow's hearing on Outside Influences on Government. But there remain hearings of the Joint Committee (PDF) and Gov. Quinn's Illinois Reform Commission in the weeks to come. All of these meetings are open to the public. Your elected officials need to hear from you. Here's an updated list of where they'll be:

Tuesday, March 10
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Outside Influences on Government
AND
Quinn Reform Commission Zeke Georgi Building Auditorium, 2000 S Wyman Street, Rockford
Tuesday, March 17
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Campaign Reform
Tuesday, March 24
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Thursday, March 26
Quinn Reform Commission TBD, Quad Cities
Tuesday, March 31
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Monday, April 6
Quinn Reform Commission University of Illinois College of Law, Max L Rowe Auditorium, 504 E Pennsylvania Ave.
Thursday, April 23
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, East St. Louis
Tuesday, April 28
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, DeKalb

At the same time that voters are outraged about the corrupt practices of the Blagojevich administration and their long-term impact on the state, news reports are claiming that reform is "not a very popular position" in the Capitol. You know what legislators have to do. Tell them: in person, by phone, in the mail, and by joining together with other reformers. Now is the time.

Slay the Monster

2009-02-18T11:27:00.003-06:00

Today's news is full of stories about Roland Burris and his fundraising efforts on behalf of ex-Gov Rod Blagojevich. Rod's issues always seemed to center around campaign finance -- how he could get as much money as possible from whomever would give it to him -- but he was hardly alone. George Ryan's corruption, too, involved shaking down state employees, contractors, building leasers, and others for campaign donations. Indeed, many of the corruption problems in Illinois have traced back to campaign finance. Former Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman was sentenced yesterday to 4 years in prison for demanding bribes and campaign cash from developers. Troutman, who memorably was caught on tape declaring "all alderman, all politicians, are hos," offered up another pithy one yesterday, telling Federal Judge Ruben Castillo, “With God as my witness, I am not a monster.”

Troutman is right -- she's not the monster. The monster is Illinois' unregulated campaign finance system, which time and again rewards those who can convince donors to write enormous checks to their campaign fund. Rod Blagojevich won re-election by outspending his Republican opponent by nearly $20 million dollars -- a more than 3:1 advantage. Much of that advantage came from enormous campaign donations from contractors, board and commission appointees, people who wanted state jobs, people who wanted bills signed, people who, in short, wanted something specific in return. And because our unregulated campaign finance system allows unlimited donations, it all looked legal until long after the fact, long after the polls were closed and the winners were sworn in for another term in office.

Last year's Pay-to-Play ban was the first time in state history that Illinois acknowledged that some donations are inherently troubling. Given our culture, donations from state contractors to the official who oversees the contract cannot but give at least the appearance of impropriety, and all too often, we know, those donations stem from outright criminal intentions. But the federal corruption charges now pending against Rod Blagojevich, that he shook down a hospital awaiting a state grant and that he pressured an interest group to "donate" so that he would sign a bill they favored -- show that the problems are more pervasive. The monster is bigger than donations from state contractors.

We could not disagree more with Senate President John Cullerton, who yesterday declared that disclosure was sufficient to clean up state politics. Illinois has tried disclosure alone for the last 34 years, and the experiment has yielded George Ryan, Rod Blagojevich, Arenda Troutman and literally dozens of others. It is now abundantly clear that the problems we face demand more stringent disinfectants. Forty-five other states have campaign contribution limits. Federal candidates face limits. Limits are not perfect; no system among mortals is. But limits is a step in the right direction.

It is high time to slay the monster. The legislature can do that this year by enacting campaign finance reform.

Speak Out -- Here's Where and When

2009-02-18T10:57:00.005-06:00

Illinois now has two active government study panels looking at ways to combat corruption. Gov. Quinn has established a Reform Commission, and the leaders of the House and Senate have formed a Joint Committee on Government Reform. Both groups have scheduled meetings in the coming weeks and months to take public testimony and comment. If you've previously felt like no one was listening, now's your chance.

For more information, visit the websites of the Joint Committee on Government Reform and the Quinn Reform Commission.

Here's a schedule:

Wednesday, February 18
Quinn Reform Commission Adlai Stevenson High School, Linconshire, IL
AND
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Open Government
Tuesday, February 24
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Open Government
Monday, March 2
Quinn Reform Commission Kankakee Community College,Workforce Development Center, Iroquois Room 100
Tuesday, March 3
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Outside Influences on Government
Tuesday, March 10
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focusedon Outside Influences on Government
AND
Quinn Reform Commission Zeke Georgi Building Auditorium, 2000 S Wyman Street, Rockford
Tuesday, March 17
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Campaign Reform
Tuesday, March 24
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Thursday, March 26
Quinn Reform Commission TBD, Quad Cities
Tuesday, March 31
Joint Committee on Government Reform - State Capitol - focused on Procurement Issues
Monday, April 6
Quinn Reform Commission University of Illinois College of Law, Max L Rowe Auditorium, 504 E Pennsylvania Ave.
Thursday, April 23
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, East St. Louis
Tuesday, April 28
Quinn Reform Commission TDB, DeKalb

Time to Get to Work

2009-01-30T09:43:00.001-06:00

Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office. Now, the real work can begin.

The waning days of the Blagojevich Administration became a circus, with a one-man carnival-barker/freak show in the center ring. But until the political system that allowed someone like that to assume the duties of governor is changed, the Era of Corruption will continue.

Rod Blagojevich was hardly an outlier in the state's list of governors. Three of his seven predecessors went to jail, and if he is convicted of the federal corruption charges now lodged against him, then Jon Stewart's observation -- that you are more likely to go to jail if you become governor of Illinois than if you commit murder -- will be proven true.

We welcome Governor Pat Quinn. Perhaps it is no coincidence that he has both a reputation for standing up to established power and a dismal record as a campaign fundraiser. But we also recognize that installing Pat Quinn will not end corruption in Illinois government. We have turned governors out of office before, only to wind up, again and again, right back at square one. Problems with any one officeholder are just symptoms of a much larger problem with our culture of politics.

Illinois' political culture is too loose to resist the next thuggish strongman who will exploit its weaknesses. Illinois provides its citizens with far too little information about the personal financial interests of public officials, about the activities of lobbyists, about the day-to-day operation of government. Our campaign laws make it far too easy for the entrenched to monopolize power, to limit ballot access, and to leverage incumbency into campaign resources.

This is not news. The problems we face are well known and well documented, as are the solutions. What is needed now is not recognition but resolution, not further deliberation but deliberate action. The new Governor and the General Assembly should enact limits on campaign contributions and bring Illinois in line with nearly all other states and the federal system. We've seen what happens when special interests can give unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns; let's see how elections in Illinois work when held to the same standards that prevail in most other states. Gov. Quinn and the members of the House and Senate should come to terms on a system of public financing, to let candidates run for office without having to kowtow to the small group of people who now control the purse strings.

It's past time to improve the culture of politics in Illinois. We know what we need to do. Now we must do it.

For more information, go to ilcampaign.org.

Twenty Ways to Stop Corruption

2009-01-27T15:56:00.002-06:00

Join us for Twenty Ways to Stop Corruption in Illinois
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 6-9 p.m. at the Chicago Temple First United
Methodist Church

ICPR is co-sponsoring this panel discussion with the Better Government
Association, Business Professionals for the Public Interest,
Crossroads Fund, League of Women Voters, MALDEF, Wieboldt Foundation,
and Woods Fund of Chicago

Event Information

Twenty Ways to Stop Corruption in Illinois: A Panel Discussion

Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 6-9 p.m.

Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 77 W. Washington Street

The recent arrest and pending indictment of Governor Rod Blagojevich
have cast national and international attention on our state, leading
to the charge that Illinois is the most corrupt state in America.
While Blagojevich's actions may seem extreme to a wider audience, for
those of us who live in Chicago his shenanigans read more like
business as usual.

It's up to the citizens of Illinois to end the culture of corruption.

The featured panelists will share concrete ideas to eliminate
political corruption in Chicago and Illinois and offer tangible
actions for citizens and activists to take in order to gain control of
our government.

Panelists:
Cindi Canary, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
Patrick Collins, Attorney and Chair of an Ethics Commission charged
with making recommendations to reform state government
Miguel Del Valle, Chicago City Clerk
Dick Simpson, Professor of Political Science at UIC and former Chicago Alderman
Art Turner, State Representative (invited)

To register, contact Lisa Avila at 773.227.7676 or
lisa at crossroadsfund dot org by Friday, January 30th

Illinois Residents See Broad Corruption in State Government and Seek Action for Change

2009-01-15T08:46:00.001-06:00

A majority of Illinoisans (58%) believe Governor Rod Blagojevich’s alleged corrupt behavior is common among public officials in Illinois, and an even larger percentage believes a series of reforms, including limits on campaign contributions, would make a difference and lead to better government. The findings are contained in a new statewide poll released Thursday by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) and are available at www.ilcampaign.org. The poll itself is here (PDF) and the analysis is here (PDF).

About three-quarters of Illinois residents say an overhaul of Illinois’ weak system of campaign regulation would help make state government work better. According to the survey, 78% of residents say a ban on campaign contributions by corporations will make a difference, and 76% say a similar ban on labor union contributions would make a difference.

Similar sentiment (74%) was expressed for setting limits on the amount of contributions that could be given by individuals.

“The Blagojevich scandal and the other cases of corruption in state and local governments have taken their toll on voter confidence in public officials,” said Cynthia Canary, Director of ICPR. “Changing governors will not be enough to fix the system and restore the public’s faith in government.

“Illinois should join the federal government and 46 other states that limit the size of contributions, and our campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws should be strictly enforced,” she said. “The public does not have much faith in state government, but voters do believe reform efforts are worthwhile. Legislators should give the public the change it deserves.”

Opinions of the state legislature have sharply worsened in recent months (49% of residents now believe the legislature is doing a “poor” job compared to 26% who said so in April-May 2008). Concerns about corruption and the influence of money in politics are deeper than the current scandal and are likely to continue even if the governor is removed.

“These survey results transcend political parties and all regions of the state,” stated Sheila Simon, a professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Law and a member of the ICPR Board. “Illinois residents are united in their views that our political system must be reformed.”

Even during tough economic times, Illinoisans are sending some strongly negative messages to officeholders across the state. Two-thirds support the creation of a new state agency to vigorously enforce Illinois’ campaign finance laws (66% support) and spending more tax dollars on stronger enforcement of laws to keep money out of politics (65%).

Underscoring the strong views of residents is another key finding: six in ten (61%) Illinois residents are “extremely” concerned about corruption in state government and more than half (54%) about the influence of money in state politics. Concerns of corruption exceed concerns over the economy (50%), jobs (45%), and the state budget (46%).

Other findings of the poll included:

• 71% of Illinois residents support a law limiting the amount of campaign money party leaders of the legislature are allowed to contribute to other legislative candidates;
• 89% of registered voters say their legislator’s support for legislation to reduce money in politics would be important to their decision to re-elect their legislator with half (50%) saying it would be “very important;”
• Eight in ten Illinois residents (78%) say the state is on the wrong track, an increase from the 68% who thought so in April-May 2008.

The poll was conducted by Belden, Russonello & Stewart (BRS), an independent
research firm located in Washington, DC. A random telephone survey of 802 adults in Illinois on attitudes toward government and political reform was conducted January 8 – 11, 2009. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points at the 95% level of tolerance. Some questions in the survey track attitudes from BRS surveys on political reform conducted in 2006 and 2008. The survey was commissioned and funded by The Joyce Foundation.

Rod Blagojevich: Alone with his Money?

2009-01-13T12:50:00.002-06:00

Today's New York Times includes a profile of Gov. Blagojevich that describes him as "isolated" and "alone." Blago has always raised more money than anyone else and, with his list of campaign contributors, you'd think he'd never be lonely.

But a look at donations to his fund in the last half of 2008, released this week by the House Special Investigative Committee on impeachment, shows that many of his donors are walking away from him. These records are likely incomplete, but they suggest that people who gave to the governor in the past are toning down their support, significantly reducing their donations to his campaign fund.

Consider the utilities. Exelon kicked in $15K during the fall of of '07, but just $3.5K in the fall of '08. Ameren gave $12.5K in the fall of 2007, while fall of 2008 saw just $2K. People's Gas gave $10K in fall '08; half of what they gave a year earlier.

Other previous big donors to the governor appear to be similarly scaling back. Long-time Democratic donors Development Specialists gave $5K in fall 2008; down from $25K in fall 2007. Government Navigation Group, a lobbying firm, gave $500 in fall '08; Paul Rosenfeld, a principal at the firm, gave $5K in fall '07. Mr. & Mrs. James McDonough gave $1K in fall of '08; McDonough's company, state contractor McDonough & Assoc., gave $20K in the fall of '07. Sen. James Deleo's campaign fund gave $5K in fall '08; down from $20K in fall '07.

Even the laborers unions seem to have cut back. In the fall of 2007, three different regional laborers unions combined for $105K to Blago's fund. In the fall of 2008, just one regional, the Southern Central League, gave at all, and its giving totaled only $35K.

It seems that many gave to the governor because they thought he could deliver something. Impeached and facing federal corruption charges, his ability deliver has declined, and his receipts reflect that.

To join the comments on the contents of the list of donors, please visit yesterday's post, here.

Who would give Rod Blagojevich $617,643?

2009-01-12T14:37:00.003-06:00

The answer is, 241 donations did. And, apparently, no one gave after November 25.

One of the subpoenas issued by the House Special Investigative Committee on impeachment was to the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund seeking the names, dates, and amounts of donations to the fund between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Astute readers will recognize those dates as the start and end of the Semi-Annual Disclosure Period for the second half of 2008. State law requires that those donations be reported by January 20 (next Tuesday) but the subpoena trumped state law.

Friends of Blagojevich, through their lawyers at Hinshaw and Culberston, responded to the subpoena, and the Special Investigative Committee has posted the reply to their website. The response is just what was asked for -- names, amounts, and dates, without addresses, occupation, or employer. It also seems likely that it does not include in-kind donations.

But it does include some big donations, including a bunch from state contractors (natch), $34,000 from the laborers, and $50,000 from "Dream World Inc." All told, it adds up to $617K. The report is available here (PDF).

Give it a good read and post if you see anything interesting!

ICPR HELPS ILLINOISANS BOOT BLAGO

2008-12-30T11:12:00.002-06:00

REMOVE THE GOVERNOR AND ENACT MAJOR REFORMS

Illinoisans who want to give Gov. Rod Blagojevich the boot out of office can go to www.BootBlago.org for the latest information on the Blagojevich scandal and advice how they can help change the state’s political system.

“Like his predecessor George Ryan – aka Federal Inmate Number 16627424 – Rod Blagojevich is an embarrassment to the state of Illinois,” said Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR). “The arrest of Gov. Blagojevich on a variety of corruption charges has lit a fire under taxpayers. If he’s not going to resign, they want to boot him out of office.”

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) is redoubling its efforts to enact meaningful campaign finance reforms, and ICPR will help Illinoisans become advocates of the Governor Blagojevich's impeachment.

“Removing Gov. Blagojevich from office is not all that is needed to end the culture of corruption,” Canary said. “We have to reform the laws that now allow special interests to give unlimited amounts of money to campaigns, and we need to bring much more sunshine into the operations of state and local governments.

The fight can begin with a visit to www.BootBlago.org.

ICPR created the website as a tool to help Illinoisans unfamiliar with lobbying legislators and curious about the impeachment process.

Visitors to the website can write letters to Gov. Rod Blagojevich urging him to resign and can send letters to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn suggesting ways to improve the system. Visitors also can learn more about the reforms needed to make state politics and government more fair and honest and can link to ICPR’s website with a searchable database of campaign contributions to the governor, legislators and other candidates.

The reforms advocated by ICPR include limiting the size of campaign contributions, banning contributions by corporations and unions, prohibiting large transfers of campaign cash by legislative leaders to candidates, creating a system of voluntary campaign financing of judges, taking politics out of legislative redistricting, strengthening the State Board of Elections, toughening lobbyist regulation, requiring state officials to report more detail personal financial information concerning debts and investments, and making it easier to access public records through the Freedom of Information Act.

Warm, coal-fueled holidays

2008-12-24T10:22:00.002-06:00

Lest anyone worried that our current governor would be ignored at the holidays, CNN reports that he is the politician most deserving of... coal in the stocking. It's not golden, but, hey, it's something.

From CNN.com:

Asked which political figure deserved a lump of coal this Christmas, the scandal-scarred Blagojevich was picked by more Americans than the other two candidates combined.