Year-End Wrap Up

In This Issue
*Year-End Wrap Up

December has been a hectic month at ICPR. In the last 30 days:

  • Noting that the citizens of Illinois have a fundamental right to honest government, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced a 22-count indictment of former Gov. George Ryan. ICPR hopes that the cumulative effect of Operation Safe Road, with its 66 indictments and 59 convictions to date, will be to inspire elected officials to improve Illinois' political culture and to reassure Illinois citizens that state government is their government. For more information, click here.
  • After a multi-year effort, ICPR was proud to see ethics reforms move to the top of the state agenda when Gov. Blagojevich signed into law the most sweeping ethics reform measure in a generation. For more information, click here.
  • ICPR supporters suffered a terrible loss on December 9 when ICPR founder and chair Paul Simon passed away. He will be greatly missed. For more information, click here.
  • ICPR cheered the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. This major victory in the ongoing battle between constituents and contributors for the hearts and minds of elected officials also bodes well for parts of Illinois' recent ethics package. For more information, click here.

Our website, ilcampaign.org, offers a wealth of information and analysis of campaign finance data. In the coming weeks, we will be adding data on all who filed to run in 2004 for the legislature and the appellate and supreme court.

As the year closes, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support ICPR, one of Illinois' most effective watchdogs and energetic advocates. We have had a momentous year and made great strides in the fight for reform. But there remains much to be done and we need your help. Your tax-deductible contribution to ICPR will allow us to continue our fight to give Illinois residents a stronger voice in the political process. Click here for information on giving to ICPR.

The staff and Board of ICPR wish you and yours a very safe and happy New Year.

 



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