With the final quarterly campaign finance reports of 2020 submitted in mid-January, we now have a complete picture of the role that small donations played in the November elections for the Illinois General Assembly. And that role is, well, small. …
Read MoreThis week, Republicans in the Illinois House and Senate introduced a package of three constitutional amendments branded as the “Voter Empowerment Project.” Reform for Illinois is always eager to work with groups interested in reforming Illinois government to make it…
Read MoreWhile a few local races remain uncalled and officials continue working to ensure that every vote is counted, this year’s election results have taken shape. Here are four key takeaways from this year’s contests. 1. Kenneth Griffin won big. Kenneth…
Read MoreOne year after Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 2008 arrest on corruption charges, the Illinois General Assembly responded to calls for reform by establishing the state’s first campaign contribution limits. The law contained a caveat unique to Illinois: in any race with a so-called…
Read More We are a group of nonpartisan organizations concerned with good governance in Illinois. We welcome the recent statement from Senate President Don Harmon’s office suggesting that ethics reform will be a priority in the upcoming November veto session….
Read MoreSenator Don Harmon assumed the office of President of the Illinois Senate in January of 2020 following Senator John Cullerton’s resignation. He is now a key player not only in passing legislation but also in raising and distributing funds for…
Read More“If we’re serious about fixing the corruption problem in Illinois, we have to go to its root—the money that feeds it.” Reform for Illinois Executive Director Alisa Kaplan wrote a Chicago Tribune op-ed outlining what keeps leaders like Mike Madigan in power…
Read MoreOn July 17, the Justice Department announced its deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd, implicating Speaker Madigan as the recipient of ComEd’s bribes. Being at the center of a scandal, however, has not led to any noticeable change in Speaker Madigan’s…
Read MoreOn Friday, we learned that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is at the center of a federal investigation into a years-long bribery scheme involving the public utility ComEd. In light of these revelations, Reform for Illinois is calling for the…
Read More Read More