Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Syndicate content Get this feed!

Sins of past governors prompt legislation

March 17, 2011
Illinois Statehouse News

By Diane S.W. Lee

With one former Illinois governor sitting in prison, and another awaiting a federal retrial after his ouster from office, some lawmakers are taking steps to ensure past mistakes are not repeated, or recognized.

Mayor Daley's optional $1.1 million retirement fund

May 12, 2011
WBEZ

The mayor could take his campaign cash with him. But will he?

by Sam Hudzik

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has more than a million dollars in his campaign account. When he retires, he can take all of it with him for personal use. The mayor is not saying if he will, but it would be perfectly legal if he does. Many other Illinois politicians have exercised that right.

Editorial: Welcome teamwork on ethics reforms

May 10, 2011
Chicago Sun-Times

In a state where the practice of pay-to-play in politics has been pervasive, the news that two Illinois lawmakers are teaming up on ethics reforms is welcome.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Northwest Side Democrat, announced Monday they are pushing two ethics measures.

Campaign Finance Law Not Working

May 9, 2011
Illinois Radio Network via CBS St. Louis

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (IRN) -  As mayors and council members are being sworn in all over Illinois, consider this: Those candidates pulled in $500,000 more than they reported, thanks to a loophole in new campaign finance laws.

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform reports the $500,000 is the total which candidates were able to hide by exploiting the fact that donations smaller than $1,000 do not have to be reported. Some donors simply wrote several smaller checks to the same candidates.

IDOT not content to drop firings fight

May 6, 2011
State Journal Register

Bernard Schoenburg
 
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Just because a jury has reached a verdict in a federal lawsuit brought by 16 employees who were fired by the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2004 doesn’t mean the discussion stops.

JOHN WEBBER, communications director for IDOT, says that, while he’s not trying to dispute the court finding, his calculations show that the dismissals came at a time when savings were needed, and savings were achieved.

Candidates exploiting new disclosure loophole, group charges

May 5, 2011
Crain's Chicago Business

http://www.ilcampaign.org/sites/default/files/crains.png " />

Only Lake Co. board members have debit cards for expenses, inquiry shows

May 1, 2011
Daily Herald

By Russell Lissau

Of the five counties in the Chicago area, only the commissioners in Lake County are assigned taxpayer-funded debit cards to cover work expenses, a Daily Herald inquiry showed.

In most other area counties, commissioners must seek reimbursement for job-related purchases after they’re made. Some have to cover all work-related costs themselves.
Advertisement

ICPR Spotcheck for April 21, 2011

ICPR Spotcheck for April 21, 2011

In this Issue:

*Sunshine Database Updated with First Quarter Reports
*Illinois Senate commits to two public meetings on draft maps as redistricting deadline approaches
*ICPR is Hiring,  Come Join Our Team!
*IL Humanities Council Series: What's Possible? Government and the Economy

*Sunshine Database Updated with First Quarter Reports