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…
Read MoreChicago 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…
Read MoreBurr Ridge Trustee Tony Schiappa is now subject to a lawsuit over his Facebook page and its promotion of local candidates. RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan weighed in, saying that Schiappa “clearly presents [the Facebook page] as being an official…
Read MoreChicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg recently made headlines by saying her office has faced interference from the City’s Law Department, making it harder to investigate potential ethics violations. An ordinance designed to fix the problem was stalled by an ally of Mayor Johnson –…
Read MoreA new Chicago Tribune editorial discusses how Senate President Harmon’s attempt to quash his own State Board of Elections case via a provision in the recent ethics omnibus (legislation that ultimately failed to pass) exemplifies the need for campaign finance reform…
Read MoreThe Chicago Tribune spoke to RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan about stalled ethics legislation in Springfield, which included a provision that would have quashed Senate President Don Harmon’s State Board of Elections case. Harmon’s campaign committee is accused of accepting…
Read MoreRFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke to Joan Esposito on a radio show on WCPT Chicago about the stagnant movement of legislation pushing for greater ethics reform in Illinois. Listen to the interview here.
Read MoreAn article from Patch detailed how Burr Ridge Trustee Tony Schiappa used his Facebook page, listed as a “Government & Public Service” account, to promote school board candidates. RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan commented on his behavior: “It’s common for…
Read MoreAn article by the Tribune discussed how Gov. Pritzker and a number of high-ranking officials have not acted on ethics reform despite a number of recent convictions. RFI ED Alisa Kaplan weighed in on the ongoing push for ethics legislation:…
Read MoreThe Tribune covered a potential conflict brewing between Don Harmon, the Senate President, and the State Board of Elections. Harmon’s campaign committee accepted millions in contributions over the typical limits between March and December 2024 while under the impression that…
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