Campaign Finance

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Campaign Finance Reform

Campaign Finance Reform

Illinois is widely considered the wild west of campaign finance. No other state has quite the same combination of unregulated, unsupported political campaigns as the Land of Lincoln. Candidates in Illinois, from dog catcher on up to governor, are free to take as much money from whomever will give it to them – state vendors, state employees, regulated professionals and businesses, lobbyists, corporations, unions, trade associations, foreign nationals.



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U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Key Provisions of McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Key Provisions of McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

In a series of opinions issued December 10, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the core provisions of McCain-Feingold, including the ban on soft money for national and state parties when used for federal elections, and the new restrictions on electioneering communications.



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Campaign Contribution Limits

Campaign Contribution Limits

ICPR is working to enact legislation that will limit the amount of money that can be donated to political campaigns by individuals, corporations, and unions. While candidates for federal office are barred from accepting more than $2,000 from any individual donor, Illinois currently has absolutely no limit on how much money can be contributed! Passage of this legislation would be a landmark for campaign finance reform in Illinois- we encourage you to talk with your legislators about this issue and we'll keep you up to date throughout the year!



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Campaign and Other Disclosure

Campaign and Other Disclosure

Campaign and Other Disclosure

Illinois requires candidates for public office to disclose their
campaign finances twice a year. Candidates have to form political
committees once they raise or spend $3,000, and they have to file
disclosure forms electronically once they raise or spend $10,000
in a 12-month period.

The law also requires supplemental reports filed in the weeks leading



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Disclosure Calendar

Disclosure Calendar

This chart summarizes the reporting calendar for campaign finance disclosure for the 2004 Election Cycle:



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Top Political Contributors, January 1, 2003-June 30, 2004

These are contributors who gave the most to state candidates
for statewide,

legislative office, as well as party and caucus PACs and Appellate and

Supreme Court candidates.  For more campaign finance data, visit the

Sunshine Database.

 

Top Political Contributors, January 1, 2003-June 30,
2004

 



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Campaign Contribution Limits

Campaign Contribution Limits

Illinois is awash in political campaign money, threatening to capsize our democratic government. While most Illinoisans can afford only small contributions, if they contribute at all, the number and size of large contributions, and the number of large individual donors, have exploded in recent years, as special interests have sought to exploit Illinois unregulated campaign finance system.



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House: Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act

House: Supreme Court Campaign Reform Act
HB 2800 - McCarthy



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Lobbyist Registration and Regulation

Lobbyist Registration and Regulation

Illinois' Bill of Rights ensures "the people have the right
... to make known their opinions to their representatives."
Of the 12.5 million people who live in Illinois, a small army of
over 2,800 make their living presenting opinions to the people's
representatives. That's more than 15 lobbyists for every member
of the Illinois General Assembly.



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