Judicial Voters Guide Launched

Spotcheck -Online News

THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN FOR POLITICAL REFORM
October 21, 2002

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In this issue:
* Judicial Voters Guide Launched
* Surge in Very Large Campaign Contributions
* Election Funding Updates
* Support ICPR
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* Judicial Voters Guide Launched

To help voters make more informed choices for the third branch of
government, ICPR has launched an on-line voters guide at
illinoisvotersguide.org.

The guide covers candidates for Illinois Supreme and Appellate Court,
includes an explanation of the courts, how judicial elections work, and the
difference between election and retention. A map helps voters to see who's
running in their area. Most important, candidates for Supreme and Appellate
Court have submitted biographical and other useful information for voters to
review.

To our knowledge, this is the only judicial voters guide in Illinois from a
non-partisan, non-endorsing source.
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* Surge in Very Large Campaign Contributions

All four major party candidates for governor and attorney general have drawn
most of their campaign funds from fewer than 6% of their contributors.
Political giving in the $10,000 and over range has surged; in 1998, no
candidate for governor or attorney general relied on such contributions for
more than a third of their total campaign funds.

A new issue briefing, "Wrong and Dispensible: Ban Big Campaign Contributions
to Illinois Politicians" notes that giving at this level is illegal in most
states and in all federal elections. The average contribution limit across
the Midwest is $3780 for statewide elections and $1,250 in legislative
elections. ICPR calls for a broad public dialogue on what the appropriate
level of political giving should be in Illinois.

The new issue briefing is available on ICPR's website, ilcampaign.org
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* Election Funding Updates

To keep you up-to-date on who is giving and who is getting political
contributions during the final weeks of the 2002 Illinois election season,
ICPR will be posting a series of updates on our website, ilcampaign.org

Updates will be posted on 10/24, 10/31 and 11/4.