ICPR Finds $1M in Campaign Contributions Related to Smart Grid Legislation
In this Issue: November 3, 2011
*ICPR Finds Million-Dollar Shower of Campaign Contributions Related to Smart Grid Electric Legislation
*Celebrate ICPR! Buy Tickets are still available for our Nov. 10 Event
*ICPR Finds Million-Dollar Shower of Campaign Contributions Related to Smart Grid Electric Legislation
In just the past 10 months, Illinois legislators have received more than $1 million in campaign contributions from supporters and opponents of controversial legislation granting electric utilities the power to raise rates without the approval of state regulators, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform's (ICPR) comprehensive review of campaign finance reports.
Supporters of the so-called "Smart Grid" legislation (Senate Bill 1652) outspent opponents by a margin of more than 4 to 1. The utility contributions totaled $867,258, and the opposition, which includes the SEIU Health Care union, contributed $185,100 to the campaign committees of legislators and to party and caucus committees controlled by legislative leaders.
"This money flowed into campaign coffers not during the middle of any tight election campaigns but in the middle of a hard fought legislative battle," said Brian Gladstein, ICPR's Executive Director. "When election campaigns finally do get into gear, voters will want to know whether the contributions influenced floor votes."
To read the full report click here.
*Celebrate ICPR! Tickets are still available for our Nov. 10 Event! Tickets are still available for purchase now for ICPR's Fall Fundraiser!
We hope you will join us for a festive evening next Thursday, November 10th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Zolla Lieberman Gallery, 325 West Huron in Chicago.
This year Stanley Adelman will accept the Paul Simon Public Service Award on behalf of DLA Piper for their generous pro-bono support of ICPR's efforts to defend campaign disclosure in Illinois. We will also be presenting the inaugural Cynthia Canary Leadership Award to Terry Pastika of the Citizen Advocacy Center, for her leadership on Freedom
of Information issues.
Sponsorship opportunities range from $250 to $2,500. For information about becoming a sponsor, contact Brian Gladstein, executive direcor, at brian@ilcampaign.org or 312-335-1767 Individual tickets are $75, with a $50 "Young Professional" rate for guests under 30. Purchase your tickets online today by clicking 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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