Campaign Finance | City Ethics

October 21, 2009

Illinois Ethics Reform Poll and Blagojevich News

Blago watchers will be interested in the news in today's Chicago Tribune about his former chief of staff and campaign manager pleading guilty and providing detailed testimony about the schemes of Blagojevich and three of his friends to make money off Blago's position, "such as through operating bus…

October 19, 2009

Political Consultants, Lobbyists, Term Limits and Contribution Limits in Missouri

Update: October 21, 2009 (see below) Two interesting issues come out of a long, detailed Kansas City Star article yesterday about Missouri political consultant, and recent house speaker, Ron Jetton. Political Consultants and the Definition of "Lobbyist" One involves the definition of "lobbyist." Mi…

Campaign Finance & Pay-to-Play June 10, 2009

How Loudly, Personally, and Ignorantly Money Can Speak

Money rarely speaks as loudly and personally as it did for Tom Golisano, a billionaire who appears to have been the principal force in pushing the Democrats out of power in Albany, after he was snubbed by the party to which he has been a principal patron. And rarely has a good government advocate s…

Ethics Codes & Reform June 5, 2009

Ways to Prevent or Slow Down Ethics Reform

I am always fascinated at the ways in which even the most reform-minded politicians can kill ethics reform proposals that might cause them some embarrassment. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana has done a great deal for ethics reform, but at least one reform bill, which on its face seems pretty minor, …

April 29, 2009

Illinois Reform Commission Report Is Out

Most of the Illinois Reform Commission's report, which was published yesterday, has little to do with local government ethics, but there is enough overlap to make it worth skimming through. The IRC was charged with recommending changes in the state's ethics and campaign finance programs. Of special…

March 5, 2009

Concern About Corruption in Illinois

Politics may be local for politicians, but is it for citizens? The 2009 Joyce Foundation Illinois Survey shows that in January the people of Illinois were more concerned about corruption in government than about the economy. Last January only 49% of those polled were extremely concerned about corru…

Campaign Finance & Pay-to-Play January 26, 2009

Personal Fundraising by Elected Officials

Here's a more interesting story out of Massachusetts, this one from the state Senate. Former state senator Dianne Wilkerson admits having accepted up to $70,000 from friends and supporters in what is being called personal fundraising, that is, raising money to pay off personal debts. She says that …

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