Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 312-335-1767
DECEMBER 9, 2003

REFORM GROUPS CELEBRATE SIGNING OF ETHICS LEGISLATION

The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition released the following statement in reaction to Governor Rod Blagojevich signing the 2003 Illinois Ethics Act:
The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition is pleased to join with the Governor and other elected officials to witness the signing of the 2003 Illinois Ethics Act.

We believe that this important legislation will go a long way towards restoring the public’s faith in state government.
The new law is striking for its breadth. It propels Illinois from being one of the least regulated states in the nation into the forefront of ethics reform. The legislation institutes a comprehensive system of ethical mandates, ranging from disclosure to revolving door provisions, with independent ethics commissions charged with setting standards and enforcement.

We commend the Governor, the Constitutional Officers, the Legislative Leaders and the General Assembly for their leadership in bringing this important legislation to fruition. However, with legislation as sweeping as the ethics bill, we recognize that the real challenge will be to ensure that the promise of the legislation is met, and that the disclosure and accountability principles underpinning it are respected in its implementation.

Over the coming months, the Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition will work to monitor implementation of the new law to begin the process of transforming Illinois government from a culture of corruption into an open and accountable system, which everyone in this state can be proud of.

The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition includes the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Common Cause Illinois, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, Protestants for the Common Good, the Citizen Advocacy Center and Citizen Action Illinois.
# # #