Originalism CLE Certificate of Attendance

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/originalism-cle-certificate-of-attendance/

RFI ED talks ‘deceptive’ Chicago City Wire campaign mailers

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/rfi-ed-talks-deceptive-chicago-city-wire-campaign-mailers/

RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan spoke with Block Club Chicago about the Chicago City Wire mailers popping up in mailboxes across Chicago.  “The mailers appeared during campaign season and will likely disappear after the election; the goal is clearly to…

Political communications masquerading as news

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/political-communications-masquerading-as-news/

RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan spoke with Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business about the new “Chicago City Wire” publication flooding mailboxes in Chicago. “Chicago City Wire” is one of eleven weekly newsletters published across Illinois by a group called…

Illinois Democrats eclipse Republicans in fundraising

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/illinois-democrats-eclipse-republicans-in-fundraising/

Illinois Democrats are outraising their Republican counterparts as the general election draws nearer. According to Reform for Illinois’ Sunshine Database, incumbent JB Pritzker started the year by giving his campaign $90 million, and added another $35 million to his campaign…

Chicago businessman donates $1.6 billion in dark money to conservative non-profit

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/chicago-businessman-donates-1-6-billion-in-dark-money-to-conservative-non-profit/

A Chicago businessman just quietly gave the largest reported donation ever to a political nonprofit. Barre Seid, former CEO of electrical product manufacturing company Tripp Lite, has donated $1.6 billion to Marble Freedom, the conservative advocacy group credited with helping…

With pro-labor Amendment 1 on the horizon, labor organizations spend big with little resistance from opposition.

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/with-pro-labor-amendment-1-on-the-horizon-labor-organizations-spend-big-with-little-resistance-from-opposition/

This November, Illinois voters will be voting on Amendment 1, which would enshrine the right to collective bargaining and prevent Illinois from ever becoming a “right to work” state. According to Reform for Illinois’ Executive Director Alisa Kaplan, the financial…

Campaign finance update: Fundraising is up, Griffin is down, and November 8th will be here before we know it

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/campaign-finance-update-fundraising-is-up-griffin-is-down-and-november-8th-will-be-here-before-we-know-it/

Dick Uihlein bests Ken Griffin with some help from fellow billionaire Gov. Pritzker. A new constitutional amendment on the ballot starts to draw big labor bucks. Underdog candidates win in the General Assembly, and the Chicago mayoral race heats up….

Q2 2022: Cook County & Chicago

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/q2-2022-cook-chicago/

Cook County Assessor Kaegi’s personal wealth vs. Steele’s real estate backers Fritz Kaegi took in $2.5 million this quarter, a sum that includes $2 million in self-loans and two $100K donations from Chairman of Newsweb Corporation Fred Eychaner and Chairman…

Q2 2022: General Assembly & Party Committees

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/q2-2022-general-assembly/

Legislative Leaders Democrats hoard funds; Griffin boosts Durkin After a lackluster start to 2022, legislative leaders reported stronger fundraising hauls in the second quarter.  Speaker Welch brought in $2.6 million, second only to Senate President Harmon’s $3.4 million. Speaker Welch’s…

Q2 2022: Statewide and Amendment 1

https://www.reformforillinois.org/blog/q2-2022-statewides/

The Governor’s Race: Billionaire Pileup  The battle between billionaires Ken Griffin and Dick Uihlein continued into the second quarter of 2022, with Uihlein’s choice Darren Bailey ultimately winning the Republican nomination with a healthy 57.7% of the vote. Billionaire-backed upstart…