August 20, 2007

In This Issue:

  • Media Reform: The FCC is Coming to Chicago
  • Prospects for Pay to Play Reform
  • New Sunshine

Media Reform: The FCC is Coming to Chicago
ICPR is working on several fronts to improve broadcast coverage of campaigns and elections. Together with the Benton Foundation and the Campaign Legal Center, we recently urged the Federal Communications Commission to clarify broadcasters public interest obligations in the context of digital broadcasting. And we're working with a number of Chicago-based groups to plan for the FCC's upcoming public hearing on media ownership issues. The hearing data is set -- Thursday, September 20 -- but the time and place are not yet announced.


Prospects for Pay to Play Reform
If you're confused about what's going on in Springfield, you're not alone. Eric Zorn posted a good summary of the budget mess, but it's harder to follow what's' happening with ethics reform. The State Journal-Register ran a story on last Friday that gives a decent summary. HB 1 picked up its 46th sponsor recently, bringing the number of non-sponsors down to 13, including, of course, the Senate President. Supermajorities of both Senate caucuses want the bill, as did 116 House members and five of the state statewide constitutionals. We are not so concerned about the vehicle -- whether it happens through HB 1, HB 824, or another legislative proposal, it should happen now.


New Sunshine
The coding is done, the numbers are nearly crunched and we hope to start posting new data to the Sunshine database this week. Look for updates on Chicago's spring elections, including the dozen April runoffs and the citywide contests from February real soon. After that we'll have giving to legislators and other state candidates during the Spring legislative session that saw so much wrangling over telecommunications, electric rates and gambling. Then we'll be posting Cook County data. Check back for new data!

ICPR Spotcheck is a publication of The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a non-partisan public interest group that educates, conducts research, and advocates reforms to promote public participation in government, address the role of money in politics, and encourage integrity, accountability, and transparency in government.

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