June 1, 1999

COALITION CALLS UPON GOVERNOR TO STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' ETHICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition:
Citizen Action/Illinois Education Fund * Citizens for Clean Elections * Dollars & Democracy * Illinois Campaign for Political Reform * Illinois PIRG * League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund * Protestants for the Common Good

The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition, at press conferences in Champaign, Chicago, Elmhurst, Rockford and Springfield, announced today the start of a statewide movement for campaign finance reform. They launched the effort by presenting Governor George Ryan with over 10,000 petition signatures calling for comprehensive campaign reform.

"We are here today to let it be known that shoring up the state's ethical and campaign finance infrastructure is as important as mending its bridges and roadways," said Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"These signatures demonstrate that people from Carbondale to Chicago care deeply about this issue and want to see it seriously addressed in a bi-partisan fashion," added League of Women Voters of Illinois president Jan Flapan.

Last year the General Assembly passed a campaign ethics bill which introduced a gift ban, increased disclosure requirements, and prohibited the personal use of campaign funds. This legislation was heralded by the reform community as a critical first step towards campaign reform. However, it does nothing to stem the flow of money into Illinois' political system.

The Sunshine Project reported today that the cost of Illinois elections in 1998 increased by $28 million since the 1994 contest, with candidates for statewide and legislative office spending a record $93 million on the 1998 primary and general election. Over the past year, more than $1.8 million dollars was contributed to Illinois politicians by the gaming industry, over half a million dollars was contributed by the banking industry and over $300,000 was donated by road builders. Big money contributions from interests with issues on the legislative docket continues to be the norm in Illinois.

The coalition's petition calls for:
* Developing a system of fair and equitable contribution limits and voluntary spending caps for political campaigns;
* Requiring all candidates to disclose campaign money received and spent in a timely, public, and complete way prior to elections;
* All candidates to abide by the Code of Fair Campaign Practices; and
* Publishing a statewide voters guide containing statements from all candidates for statewide office and the Illinois legislature.

Illinois PIRG executive director Diane E. Brown noted that "The coalition is calling upon the Governor to really put Illinois first and do what the General Assembly failed to do by putting campaign reform and ethics at the forefront of his agenda. Although the legislature managed to ignore the campaign finance issue in 1999, we are committed to seeing reform measures enacted in 2000."

Pointing to recent political scandals, the increasingly negative tone of elections, and the ever rising cost of elections, John Cameron, executive director of Citizen Action noted that "The Illinois General Assembly found time to address the gambling issue and resolve Mr. Wirtz's concerns, but they failed to enact measures to address public concerns and reform our campaign finance system."

To encourage the public to speak out on this issue, coalition members passed out thousands of bars of soap with labels saying "Clean Up Illinois' Dirty Politics" inviting citizens to make their voices heard by calling the coalition toll free at 888-749-8911.

The group requested a meeting with the Governor to discuss the petition and to hear his plans for building an infrastructure for good government in Illinois. The coalition also announced plans to hold public hearings around the state and organize citizen delegations to meet with legislators to discuss the campaign finance reform issue.

The Illinois Campaign Reform Coalition includes Citizen Action/Illinois, Dollars and Democracy, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Illinois PIRG, Citizens for Clean Elections, and Protestants for the Common Good.