Ready For Reform

Let's get caught up.

1. CHICAGO - Representatives of civic, business, professional, non-profit and philanthropic organizations will announce the start of a campaign to combat Illinois' culture of political corruption. Members of the coalition include:

* Peter Bensinger, former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

* Deborah Harrington, President, Woods Fund of Chicago

* George A. Ranney, President and CEO of Chicago Metropolis 2020

* Cynthia Canary, Director, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

2. NEW COALITION VOWS TO CHANGE ILLINOIS LEADERS UNITE TO END CULTURE OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN ILLINOIS

CHICAGO - A coalition of civic, business, professional, non-profit and philanthropic organizations on Thursday launched a campaign to combat Illinois' culture of political corruption and urged other citizens to join in the battle to demand honest government.

The first priority of the non-partisan CHANGE Illinois coalition will be to reduce the influence of large campaign contributors by enacting strict limits on the amount of money that can be given to candidates and political action committees.

CHANGE Illinois advocates replacing the state's unregulated campaign finance system with one modeled after the contribution limit system in place at the federal level and in almost all other states. Contribution limits, combined with more frequent public reporting of contributions and strengthened oversight of campaign finance laws, would put Illinois on the road to real reform.

The growing coalition includes an impressive number of outstanding citizens and organizations prepared for a long-term commitment to reform.

"AARP has nearly 2 million members in Illinois, and the vast majority of them vote - so when the issues we represent them on like health care reform and fair utility rates don't move forward, you've got to wonder why," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director, and a member of the coalition's steering committee. "For too long, we've seen business as usual stand in the way of progress as it should be. Something has got to change."

In partnership with its members, the CHANGE Illinois coalition plans to build a grassroots network that will keep the spotlight on reform. We will offer a blueprint for change and help citizens who share our concerns become active in the state's growing reform movement. A statewide speakers bureau, policy maker briefings, community forums, editorial board meetings, a web-based petition drive, advertising, and online communications will be used to educate citizens and mobilize public support for the steps needed to restore confidence in the political system. To initiate this effort, the coalition has launched a website (www.CHANGEIL.org).

"Illinoisans wanting to change the status quo of recurring scandals must step forward and press their legislative representatives for the change that is so desperately needed," Bensinger said. "Illinois has many outstanding and well-meaning public servants, and we know many will join us in this mission. However, their success in reforming the political system requires an involved electorate.

"A succession of high profile political scandals has left Illinoisans dismayed with politics as usual in Illinois," Bensinger said. "We have witnessed an alarming retreat from the basic values essential to a well-functioning democracy: honesty, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and fairness."

"The rules of the political process have been deliberately manipulated and applied in ways that nearly always advantage incumbent officeholders, large donors, and political insiders," Harrington said. "We need new rules that will advantage ordinary citizens who have neither the resources nor influence to be heard.

"Corruption in government impacts all of us," Harrington continued. "It leads to wasteful spending; makes it more expensive to do business in Illinois; and thwarts an honest debate of critical issues."

"Historically in Illinois, voices with influence in Springfield have spoken only about legislation that matters to their organization or interest," Ranney said. "Today, we stand with long-time advocates of reform and give increased volume to their voices. We recognize that changing Illinois for the better - whether it be better schools, roads or any other important issue - requires changing government.

"Anyone interested in changing government, especially in Illinois, understands that the first target must be the money that drives the election system and too often influences legislative debates and fuels corruption and fraud," Ranney said.

Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), said the creation of the coalition and the determination of its members is cause for optimism but also a reflection of the attitude of the general public.

"Recent polling found a majority of Illinoisans believe corruption is common among public officials, but they also believe that reform efforts are worthwhile," Canary said. "About three-quarters of Illinois voters said an overhaul of our weak campaign finance regulation system would make state government work better, and similar overwhelming majorities favor limiting the amount of money that can be contributed to political campaigns."

(Complete results of the survey commissioned and funded by The Joyce Foundation are available at www.ChangeIL.org.)

"Just as removing one officeholder will not clean up all of government, the coalition recognizes that campaign finance reform is not an elixir to the problem," Harrington said. "However, setting contribution limits is the best place to begin a long-term effort to make state government more representative of Illinoisans and more responsive to all citizens."

The coalition members agree that there are many avenues for political reform, including an end to gerrymandering of legislative districts, more openness in government, more public information about the economic interests of government officials, and tighter regulation of lobbying. Those and other ideas will be examined in the coming months.

Anyone interested in joining the coalition or learning more about its mission should visit its website (www.ChangeIL.org).

3. Members of the CHANGE Illinois coalition:

Co-Chairs
* Peter Bensinger, former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
* Deborah Harrington, President, Woods Fund of Chicago
* George A. Ranney, President and CEO of Chicago Metropolis 2020

Steering Committee
* Chair: Paula Wolff, Senior Executive, Chicago Metropolis 2020
* Ellen Alberding, President, The Joyce Foundation
* John M. Buchanan, Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago
* Todd Dietterle, Common Cause Illinois
* Paul H. Dykstra, Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
* Bob Gallo, State Director, AARP
* Hoy McConnell, Executive Director, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest
* Newton Minow, Attorney, Sidley & Austin LLP
* Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch, Professor, Northwestern University School of Law
* Sylvia Puente, Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum
* Brenda Russell, Esq.
* Adlai E. Stevenson, Chairman, Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy
* Anton Valukas, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP

Member Organizations
* Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP)
* Better Government Association
* Business and Professional People for the Public Interest
* Center for Neighborhood Technology
* Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice
* Chicago Council of Lawyers
* Chicago Crime Commission
* Chicago Metropolis 2020
* Chicago Urban League
* The Civic Federation
* Common Cause Illinois
* Congress for New Urbanism
* Frontenac Company
* Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
* Illinois PIRG
* Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
* The Joyce Foundation
* Latino Policy Forum
* League of Women Voters of Illinois
* Openlands
* Protestants for the Common Good
* The United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations
* Woods Fund of Chicago

Individual Members
* Cameron S. Avery, Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
* Rev. Dr. Byron Brazier, Pastor, Apostolic Church of God
* Rev. Christine Chakoian
* Ronald E. Daly, Retired Chairman & CEO, Oce-USA Holding, Inc.
* J.R. Davis, Chicago Crime Commission
* Terry Dee, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
* Tyrone C. Fahner, Mayer Brown LLP Partner and Former Chairman
* Brother James Gaffney, FSC, President, Lewis University
* Brooke Hecht
* Philip Hummer
* Tom Johnson, Taxpayers' Federation
* Arthur L. Kelly, KEL Enterprises, L.P.
* Hon. Abner Mikva
* Michael H. Moskow, Vice Chairman and Senior Fellow, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
* Hon. John Norquist, Congress for New Urbanism
* Raul I. Raymundo, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, The Resurrection Project
* Kent Redfield, The Sunshine Project
* Maria N. Saldana, Managing Director, Duncan Williams, Inc.
* Sheryl Sharp
* Adele Smith Simmons, Vice Chair & Senior Executive, Chicago Metropolis 2020
* Hon. Sam Skinner, United States Attorney Northern District of Illinois 1975-1977 Greenberg Traurig
* Harrison Steans
* James P. Stirling, Senior Vice President, UBS
* Richard L. Thomas, Retired Chairman, First Chicago NBD Corporation
* Don A. Turner, President Emeritus, Chicago Federation of Labor
* Clarence Wood, retired chairman of City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations
* Hon. Corinne G. Wood

4. WHERE DO OUR LEADERS STAND ON FIXING THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM?

BGA and Illinois Campaign for Political Reform Announce Campaign Finance Survey

CHICAGO - Following the most outrageous political scandal in what many describe as one of the most corrupt states in the nation, the Better Government Association and Illinois Campaign for Political Reform have teamed up to survey every constitutional officer and member of the Illinois General Assembly on the vital issue of campaign finance limits.

The 182 surveys - to the state's five constitutional officers, 119 house members and 59 state senators - were sent last week in advance of the March 16-17 campaign finance hearings in Springfield. The six question survey asks candidates unequivocally whether they favor or oppose caps on contributions and other campaign finance reform proposals.

Corruption is a familiar plague in Illinois. The current campaign finance system, which sets no limits on who may give or how much they can contribute, is widely considered as a key culprit. While the Blagojevich scandal is the most extreme example of campaign finance abuse, the current framework allows unlimited campaign money to taint the political system.

Illinois is currently one of only five states with no limits on campaign contributions.

"In this state, any person or organization can make unlimited contributions, even if the money is coming from a company that is regulated by state government. In most states, campaigns can only accept money from individuals and place a cap on how much one person can give," said Cindi Canary, ICPR's director.

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and Better Government Association want the state's elected officials to take a stand on this vital reform measure.

"The people of Illinois deserve to know whether our leaders intend to fix our broken system or sit on the side lines and protect the status quo," said David Lundy, BGA acting executive director.

5. CHANGE ILLINOIS GIVES VOTERS A TOLL-FREE HOTLINE TO ASK LEGISLATORS TO LIMIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

DIAL 1-800-719-3020

SPRINGFIELD - The CHANGE Illinois coalition on Monday opened a toll-free hotline for Illinoisans to call 1-800-719-3020 and tell their legislators to enact campaign contribution limits.

Callers to the CHANGE Illinois Hotline will be connected directly to their state legislators.

"Large campaign contributions in Illinois are muting the voice of the public and preventing real progress on the issues that matter," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. "Enough is enough - we need campaign contribution limits now. The people deserve to get their voice back."

AARP is reaching out to its nearly 2 million members across Illinois asking them to call the hotline and urge their legislators to stop the flow of special interest money into Springfield. The number also will be featured in an upcoming article in the AARP Bulletin publication which is sent to all AARP members in the state.

Launched in late February, CHANGE Illinois is a coalition of civic, business, professional, non-profit and philanthropic organizations aligned to bring government integrity to Illinois. The coalition includes many civic leaders and organizations, including AARP, the Chicago Urban League, The Civic Federation, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and the Latino Policy Forum.

CHANGE Illinois also today announced many additional members, including the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, the Citizen Advocacy Center, the Community Renewal Society, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Southwest Organizing Project and Voices for Illinois Children. (Complete list of members available at www.ChangeIL.org.)

The three co-chairs of CHANGE Illinois - Peter Bensinger, former Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; Deborah Harrington, President, Woods Fund of Chicago; and George Ranney, President and CEO of Chicago Metropolis 2020 - were scheduled to appear Monday afternoon before the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Government Reform.

CHANGE Illinois advocates replacing the state's unregulated campaign finance system with one modeled after the contribution limit system in place at the federal level and in almost all other states. Contribution limits, combined with more frequent public reporting of contributions and strengthened oversight of campaign finance laws, would put Illinois on the road to real reform.

"While money is said to be the mother's milk of politics, it is also the grease on the wheels of corruption in government," Bensinger said. "Illinois needs a major change in its political climate, and that requires new rules limiting contributions to candidates and strong oversight of the campaign finance system."

"There are many fine men and women throughout our government, but they are toiling in a system that clearly is broken," Ranney said. "Illinois voters are skeptical about the fairness of government, and business executives around the world are, too. The headlines about recent scandals cemented the state's bad reputation and left business leaders wary about investing in Illinois."

"The unlimited nature of the state's current campaign finance system has left those with little resources feeling they have little power to influence government," Harrington said. "But as long as their voices are loud and we all work together, we have the ability to change our government. Changing the status quo is never easy, but it is not impossible."

In partnership with its members, the CHANGE Illinois coalition is building a grassroots network that will keep the spotlight on reform. In addition to the toll-free hotline and advertising to mobilize public support, the effort will include a speakers bureau, policy-maker briefings, community forums, editorial board meetings, a web-based petition drive, and online communications.

"Removing one person from office does not solve the problem," said Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "Unlimited campaign contributions have led to wasteful spending, altered the power structure and distorted the debate of issues in Springfield."

Canary pointed out that the federal election system limits contributions to candidates and 45 other states have laws limiting contributions.

"Limiting contributions is not all that is needed to make our government fair and honest, but it is a very important step," Canary said. "Contribution limits will help make state government more representative of Illinoisans and more responsive to all citizens."

The coalition members agree that there are many avenues for political reform, including an end to gerrymandering of legislative districts, more openness in government, more public information about the economic interests of government officials, and tighter regulation of lobbying. Those and other ideas will be examined in the coming months.

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