Derrick Smith, an Illinois lawmaker who has been arrested on federal bribery charges, has won the Democratic primary for the state House race in the fall.
For full news coverage, read:
“Indicted Illinois House member wins Dem nomination” by John O’Connor (Associated Press) in The State Journal-Register.
“Chicago lawmaker charged in bribe case wins primary” by Andrew Stern (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
ᔥ Thanks go to Jim Sedor, Editor of News You Can Use, for finding this article.
ᔥPhoto courtesy of the Illinois General Assembly website.
553 Outstanding Fines
If you don’t file your campaign finance paperwork in Illinois, you will receive a fine from the State Board of Elections. Take a look at “Political committees owe Illinois $800,000 in fines” by Andrew Thomason in the McDonough Voice.
As the article notes, there is no criminal penalty involved, but candidates could find out they are not eligible to run for elected office if they don’t take care of the fines.
According to the article:
The Illinois State Board of Elections, or ISBE, has 553 outstanding fines totaling $808,235.15 against political committees for either filing campaign finance reports late or violating Illinois’ campaign finance laws. Fines date back to 2003 and range from $25 to $10,000.
March 14, 2012 •
Judge Throws Out Illinois Limits on Contributions to Independent Expenditure Committees
Limits Ran Afoul of Citizens United Decision
U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Aspen has removed limits on political contributions to groups that make independent expenditures on behalf of or against a candidate.
The decision in Personal Pac v. McGuffage specifically overturns the annual limits of $10,000 per individual, $20,000 per corporation or union, and $50,000 from a political action committee to an independent expenditure committee.
Noting the U.S. Supreme Court struck down such limits in the Citizens United case, Judge Aspen concluded that preventing actual and apparent corruption cannot justify restrictions on independent expenditures.
February 16, 2012 •
Campaign Finance and Ethics in Thursday’s News!
Super PACs, a new charge against former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Chicago takes first prize in corruption, and a group in Montana takes on that state’s political contribution restrictions:
“Super-PAC craze sweeps the nation” by Rachel Leven in The Hill.
“Feds Add Charge to Former Detroit Mayor Corruption Case” by The Associated Press on Governing.
“Chicago most corrupt city, report shows” by MJ Lee on Politico.
“Group fighting campaign finance laws in 3 courts ask federal judge to undo contribution limits” by Matt Gouras (Associated Press) in The Republic.
February 14, 2012 •
Personal PAC Files Suit Challenging Illinois Contribution Limit
Injunction Allowing Unlimited Contributions Sought
Personal PAC, an abortion rights group, has filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down the limit on the amount of money given by donors to PACs.
Presently, the limit is set at $10,000 per election cycle.
Personal PAC is seeking an immediate and permanent injunction which would allow donors to make unlimited contributions to PACs.
February 9, 2012 •
Illinois State Board of Elections Moves Springfield Office
Effective February 10, 2012
The Illinois State Board of Elections will be relocating its Springfield office beginning Friday, February 10, 2012.
The new address is 2329 S MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois, 62704-4503.
All other contact information remains the same.
January 6, 2012 •
Illinois Modifies Lobbyist Affirmation Due Date
Due February 4, 2012
The Illinois Secretary of State has announced that the lobbyist affirmation statement for the period of July 1 to December 31, 2011 has been modified.
The lobbyist affirmation is now due on February 4, 2012.
December 8, 2011 •
Rahm Emanuel Creates Ethics Reform Task Force
City Ethics Ordinance to be Redrafted
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced the creation of an ethics reform task force charged with overhauling and strengthening the city’s ethics ordinance.
The task force will be given four months to rewrite the city’s ethics ordinance.
November 22, 2011 •
Rezko to Remain in Jail Seven More Years
The sentence for Blagojevich’s former fundraiser arrives.
The U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois sentenced Tony Rezko to 10 1/2 years in prison, of which he has served three-and-a-half years.
For the full story:
“Judge sentences Blagojevich fundraiser Rezko to 10½ years, he will get credit for time served” from the Washington Post.
“Top Blagojevich adviser Tony Rezko gets 10½ years” from the Chicago Tribune.
September 23, 2011 •
Highlighted Site of the Week – Chicago’s City Hall in Your Community Map
The City of Chicago website lets you see what Rahm Emanuel is doing for the city.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office in Chicago is now offering a Google map on the City of Chicago website that allows citizens to follow the mayor’s travels.
The City Hall in Your Community page has markers on its map showing where the mayor has visited. They give us the date of the visit, a picture of the mayor at the event, a link to the original source of the picture, and a description of the event as well as the mayor’s role. It appears there are over one hundred of those markers on the City Hall in Your Community map.
I think this is a good idea for other cities to imitate. It looks like a powerful tool to demonstrate government responsiveness and accountability.
Govtech.com has a great article with much more information about the site. It is called “Where’s Rahm Emanuel? Online Map Tracks Chicago Mayor’s Travels” from September 20.
September 1, 2011 •
Chicago Lobbyist Database Provides Unprecedented Information
New Information links lobbyist expenses with their clients
Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog pointed to a press release today, in which Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that information connecting lobbyists’ activities, their compensation, and expenses with each of their clients would now be provided on the city’s lobbyist disclosure database.
Regarding the new data that is now going to be released, Mayor Emanuel said,
“Today I am delivering on a promise to make more lobbyist data available as part of my administration’s commitment to transparency. For the first time ever, we are making city lobbyist data available online that isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. This new data ties information together in a way that shows the connection between client, lobbyist and city hall.”
This information is available through the City of Chicago Data Portal. The lobbyist databases include the Lobbyist Agency Report, Lobbyist Gift Report, Lobbyist Categorized Expenditures Report, Lobbyist Major Expenditures Report, and Lobbyist Registry.
August 1, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – August 1, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Crossroads GPS, Priorities USA Violate Tax Laws, Reform Groups Allege in IRS Petition
Oregon Congressman, Named in Sex Case, to Resign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Bob Riley’s PAC Admits Taking PAC-to-PAC Donation in Violation of Law Riley Pushed
California
Judge Ready to Strike down San Jose Law Barring Last-Minute Campaign Contributions
District of Columbia
D.C. Council Member Thomas to Repay D.C. $300,000
Florida
Judge Hears Challenge to Florida Campaign Law
Florida
Press Group in Talks to Take Over State Lobbyist Registration
Georgia
Ethics Commission Could See Major Reorganization
Illinois
Emanuel Ethics Reforms Back on Track at City Council
Massachusetts
GOP’s Winslow Uses On-line Coupon to Promote Fundraiser
New York
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz Fined $20,000 for Taking Free Foreign Trips for His Wife
Rhode Island
Twenty Politicians Owe $800,000 in Election Fines
Tennessee
Some Advocacy Avoids Tennessee Lobbying Label
Virginia
For Virginia Companies, Campaign Donations to Lawmakers Just another Cost of Doing Business
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
July 28, 2011 •
Chicago City Council Passes Ethics Ordinance
Includes Five Key Provisions
On July 28, 2011 the Chicago City Council passed a new ethics reform ordinance. The ordinance is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to provide more government transparency.
The new ordinance includes five key provisions. First, it creates a searchable online system for lobbyist registration and reporting. Second, it adds the term “lobbyist” to the group of people subject to the $50 gift restriction per single non-cash gift and $100 aggregated gift limit per each calendar year. Third, the new ordinance prohibits city employees, officials, or their businesses from applying for or receiving loans from lobbyists.
Fourth, the ordinance amends the semi-annual lobbyist activity report form to require lobbyists to disclose all campaign contributions to city elected officials and city employees running for office. Lastly, the ordinance codifies the revolving door provision created by Mayor Emanuel’s May 16, 2011 executive order.
Photo of the Chicago River by Robert S. Donovan on Wikipedia.
July 11, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 11, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Drops Audits of Political Donors
New Breed of ‘Super PACs,’ Other Independent Groups Could Define 2012 Campaign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Democratic Conference Files Lawsuit to Stop New Alabama Law Banning Political Fund Transfers
Arizona
Arizona Conservatives Scramble after Campaign Finance Law’s Defeat
California
Marijuana Lobbyist’s Fundraiser for DA Raises Questions
Veil Drawn on Donors to Latino Caucus-Controlled California Nonprofit
Connecticut
Agent Who Arrested Politicians Now Seeks House Seat
Georgia
Illinois
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Proposing New Round of Ethics Reforms
Iowa
Judge Upholds New Iowa Campaign Disclosure Rules
Massachusetts
House Leader Apologizes for Holocaust Remarks
Michigan
Justices Stop Political Gifts Taken at Work
Minnesota
Campaign Board Rejects NOM’s Efforts to Shield Donors in Marriage Battle
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Lt. Gov. Ard Paying $48,000 Fine
Washington
Ex-Prisons Chief Eldon Vail Says He Resigned Because of an Affair with Subordinate
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
