A Special Message from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Something amazing happened this month.  After a 30-plus-year effort, Illinois finally enacted contribution limits.
 
This is an historic step for reform in Illinois.  Even in the perfect storm of corruption and international attention revolving around the impeachment and indictment of Rod Blagojevich, resistance to reform in the General Assembly was extremely strong.
 
The powerbrokers in Springfield said it would never happen, but people like you proved them wrong.
 
The final product establishes a limit of $5,000 on contributions from individuals each election cycle and $10,000 on contributions from businesses, unions and associations.  We also were able to win primary election limits on contributions by parties and legislative leader PACS.  In addition, the bill introduces strong new enforcement measures and mandates possibly the best disclosure system in the nation.
 
To every one of our supporters, we give thanks for what you helped us to accomplish.
 
Of course, there is much more to do.  Even the recently passed contribution limits provisions need to be made more comprehensive, and other reforms, like voluntary public financing of state election campaigns, are needed.  ICPR will continue its ongoing research of campaign contributions, lobbying practices, the redistricting process and soon will roll out a new website to make it easy for voters learn about candidates and contributors.
 
But we can only do this with your support.    

Please make a special year-end gift to ICPR today. You can make asecure online contribution, or if you prefer you can go here to print off a form you can mail in with your gift. All donations to ICPR are tax deductible.

Paul Simon founded ICPR because he saw the needed for a strong, non-partisan organization to monitor campaign and ethics laws, to conduct independent research about campaign contribution trends and to educate the public about needed reforms.

Paul counseled us to commit to the long haul, recognizing that reform in Illinois is a marathon rather than a sprint.  He taught us to savor our victories, while never giving up the fight for good government in Illinois.  Soon, his belief that campaign contributions should be limited will become a reality Illinois.
 
Please consider making a contribution to ICPR today, so we can keep up the fight in 2010 to see that Illinois gets the government it deserves.