Last week, four Democratic members of the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) voted to rescue Democratic State Senate President Don Harmon from having to pay a nearly $10 million penalty for alleged campaign finance violations. The Board deadlocked along…
https://www.reformforillinois.org/event/reform-for-illinois-2025-annual-awards-celebration/
This year, we’re recognizing four of our state’s brightest stars: people who have spoken truth to power, protected our most vulnerable residents, and dedicated their lives to strengthening our democracy and serving the people of Illinois. There’ll be food, an open…
https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/rfi-backs-cook-county-oiigs-call-for-additional-resources/
In an interview with the Hyde Park Herald, RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan noted that the Cook County Inspector General has just one staffer per 1,000 county employees – far behind Chicago’s ratio of one to 300. She also warned…
RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan penned a joint op-ed in the Chicago Tribune with Professor Dick Simpson urging the Cook County Board of Commissioners to support a budget amendment allocating additional funds to the Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIIG). …
https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/rfi-ed-comments-on-argo-board-member-resignation/
In an interview with Patch, RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan weighed in on a situation involving an Argo Community High School board member who resigned and later accepted a job with the school. “[T]his type of situation is not uncommon…
Responding to a recent op-ed by Senate President Harmon, RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan argued that Harmon’s framing of his legal defense as standing up for ordinary people against money in politics is disingenous. “If Harmon truly wants to make…
https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/rfi-ed-pens-op-ed-supporting-oig-ordinance/
RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan authored an op-ed with the Better Government Association’s Bryan Zarou about an ordinance that would safeguard the independence of inspector general investigations in Chicago. “Former Ald. Ed Burke was just released from federal prison after…
The Burr Ridge Village Attorney plans to represent Trustee Tony Schiappa in a lawsuit over political endorsements made on his Facebook page. “I find it perplexing that the Village would spend valuable resources to fight this rather than simply urging…
RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan spoke with the Chicago Tribune about three lobbyists who worked with the Johnson administration during the most recent legislative session but did not register to lobby on behalf of the city in the Illinois General…
https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/mayor-johnson-criticized-after-lobbyist-donation/
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is taking heat for accepting a prohibited contribution from a city lobbyist. Johnson’s political committee has faced scrutiny for accepting (and later returning) similar contributions in the past. “It’s understandable if a mistake or two gets…
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