RFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke with The Center Square’s Greg Bishop about the weaknesses in Illinois’s campaign finance and ethics laws, as well as the consequences of corruption, after former Illinois House Speaker Madigan’s indictment this week. “The Legislature should…
Read MoreOn Wednesday, we learned that former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted for his involvement in a years-long bribery scheme involving the public utility ComEd. The bombshell indictment also alleged that Madigan used his position to steer business to…
Read MoreRFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke with A.D. Quig of Crain’s Chicago Business about how to prevent another ‘Madigan Enterprise’ in Illinois: public financing for campaigns to cut off lawmakers’ reliance on the wealthiest power brokers; closing a self-funding loophole enabling…
Read MoreSpeaking with the Better Government Association about lax campaign disclosure laws in Illinois, RFI ED Alisa Kaplan said “There are so many political committees, and it’s not realistic to go through all of them with a fine-tooth comb. But [the…
Read MoreAn Interim Inspector General “just cannot be fully independent in the way that a permanent IG can be,” RFI ED Alisa Kaplan told The Chicago Tribune. “That’s a big problem for a position where independence is absolutely crucial. Read the…
Read MoreRFI ED Alisa Kaplan spoke with A.D. Quig and Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business about big money in Illinois’ gubernatorial election, saying that “No healthy democracy should have so much power concentrated in the hands of so few people.” …
Read MoreThe Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board expressed support for small donor public financing, arguing that it would level the playing field for candidates in Illinois and give politicians a reason to listen to ordinary voters. RFI’s work on public financing in…
Read MoreRFI ED Alisa Kaplan joined John Howell of WLS Radio to discuss whether politicians should be allowed to use campaign funds for their legal defense. Listen to her interview here.
Read MoreAccording to RFI ED Alisa Kaplan, it’s a complicated question. The Illinois Supreme Court considered the issue earlier this week in a case centered around disgraced former Ald. Danny Solis. Watch her interview on WTTW here.
Read MoreRFI ED Alisa Kaplan was quoted in a Crain’s Chicago Business article on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. “The need for this law is clear,” she said. “All we have to do is look at how many…
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