ICPR Spotcheck for April 6, 2011
ICPR Spotcheck for April 6, 2011
In this Issue:
*The Race is On! $2 million is the figure of the day
*Illinois redistricting process begins with Senate & House announces committee hearings
*Illinois Campaign for Accountable Redistricting: Community Forum April 14, 2011 in Cicero
*ICPR Luncheon event: The Role of Corporations in the Political Process
*Protecting the Freedom of Information Act
*ICPR is Hiring, Come Join our Team!
*The Race is On! $2 million is the figure of the day
Chicago candidates and interest groups devoted over $2 million to yesterday's city council run-offs. And over one fifth of that came from just one labor union: SEIU. In Springfield, the new campaign finance law opens a big window of sunshine on giving to General Assembly members during the legislative session. Since the start of the year, interest groups have given another $2 million to state officials and legislators. Downstate electric company Ameren leads the list (by a lot); to see who else is giving to your public officials, visit our blog or the Sunshine Database.
*Illinois redistricting process begins with Senate & House announces committee hearings
ICPR testified at today's Senate Redistricting Committee in Springfield to urge the General Assembly to show draft maps to the public before a vote is taken, and to provide opportunities for suggested edits to be considered in a public forum. Check out ICPR's testimony and follow the conversation on Twitter @ILCampaign.
The Senate Redistricting Committee has three additional public meetings scheduled: April 16, at 10 a.m. at the Peoria Red Cross; April 16 at noon at Kankakee Community College; and April 19 in Cicero, location TBA.
The House also has formed a Redistricting Committee and announced a public meeting schedule. The committee is scheduled to hold its first meetings on April 16 in Champaign, Cicero and McHenry. For more information about those and subsequent meetings, visit: http://www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting/?page_id=77
*Illinois Campaign for Accountable Redistricting (ICAR): Community Forum April 14, 2011 in Cicero
Voters should pick their politicians, not the other way around. Where will your community be after the politicians draw their map? Learn how Redistricting can affect you, your family and your community! This event is free and open to the public! Come and learn more about the redistricting process in Illinois, and hear from our speakers Cindi Canary from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and Elisa Alfonso from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. More information go to our announcement section to download the flier and forward to your friends and colleagues.
*ICPR Luncheon Event: The Role of Corporations in the Political Process
The Committee for Economic Development (CED), Justice at Stake & the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform are co-sponsoring a luncheon featuring Hugh Caperton, plaintiff in Caperton v. Massey and four esteemed corporate leaders. Our panel will give their take on how corporations should operate in the post Citizens United landscape addressing topics ranging from recusal, disclosure, to and corporate political activism.
Tom Gottschalk of Kirkland & Ellis, Tony Kavanaugh of American Electric Power, Landon Rowland of Janus Capital Group and Bill von Hoene of Exelon will discuss good corporate governance as good business, how corporate political activities should be disclosed, and what responsibility corporations have to their shareholders when they involve themselves in political activities.
Tuesday, April 19
12 pm
The Union League Club of Chicago
65 W. Jackson, Chicago
To attend, please register here by April 15th.
*Protecting the Freedom of Information Act
The legislature enacted a terrific new Freedom of Information law two years ago, but units of government around the state are already taking their knives out to pare back the public's ability to see public documents. The Chicago Tribune has done a terrific series on this fight which will come to a head in the next few weeks. Proposals heading for floor votes would allow units of government to delay or even refuse to answer FOIAs on the flimsiest of reasons, with no path of appeal. Legislators hear from other public officials all the time, but the voice of the general public should be loudest. Speak now; contact your legislator and urge them to protect FOIA.
Chicago Tribune links:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-foia-attorney-general-0404-20110403,0,790946.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-foia-attorney-general-20110402,0,6712369,full.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-foia-attorney-general-universi20110402,0,7461991.story
FOIA Proposal:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1645&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=57605&SessionID=84
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=340&GAID=11&LegID=56122&SpecSess=&Session=
Contact your legislator
*ICPR is Hiring, Come Join our Team!
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) seeks an Executive Director. We seek someone who is experienced, results-oriented professional to lead its second decade of growth and success in improving Illinois' political process. ICPR is a non-partisan public interest group that conducts research and advocates reforms to promote public participation in government; addresses the role of money in politics; educates the public on political process and government; and encourages integrity, accountability, and transparency in government. For the full description and form of applying click here.
ICPR Spotcheck is a publication of The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a non-partisan public interest group that educates, conducts research, and advocates reforms to promote public participation in government, address the role of money in politics, and encourage integrity, accountability, and transparency in government.
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