The Chicago Sun-Times published a letter to the editor from Prof. and former Ald. Dick Simpson addressing the need for ethics reform in Chicago and Illinois in the wake of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction. Simpson referenced Reform for…
Read MoreNBC 5 Chicago interviewed David Melton, RFI’s Board President, about former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s two active campaign funds, which total more than $8 million and have been used to pay his legal fees. “It’s bad policy to allow…
Read MoreThe Chicago Tribune detailed the statements made by Illinois’ political leaders following the conviction of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Reps. Spain and McCombie, others made impassioned pleas for reform. The Tribune also spotlighted Reform for Illinois’ joint statement…
Read MoreFormer Change Illinois Executive Director Madeleine Doubek featured RFI’s joint statement with Common Cause Illinois and Change Illinois in her op-ed for Crain’s Chicago Business discussing the Madigan verdict and what it might mean for the future. Read the article…
Read MoreRFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan spoke with WCIA News about the benefits of State Sen. Ventura’s proposal and how it can help alter the current system. “The way judicial campaigns are currently funded it really allows for special interest groups…
Read MoreReform for Illinois’ joint statement with Common Cause Illinois and Change Illinois was included in Capitol Fax‘s round-up of reactions to the Madigan verdict. Read the post here.
Read MoreCrain’s Chicago Business details the state of Illinois politics and examines shortcomings of past ethics reform. “I think they [legislators in Springfield] believe they did their job back in 2021,” said RFI Executive Director Alisa Kaplan, reflecting on the ethics…
Read MoreWTTW’s article covers the broader reaction to Madigan’s verdict, including RFI’s joint statement pushing for more changes: “Reform for Illinois, Common Cause and Change for Illinois called for empowering the inspector general, putting stronger restrictions on when legislators leaving the…
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Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has been found guilty on federal corruption charges. It’s an important milestone in establishing accountability for the powerful. But it’s nowhere near enough to restore public trust and strengthen our democracy. Our laws and our politicians enabled Madigan’s decades-long reign, and this…
Read MoreDavid Melton, RFI’s Board President, responds to the actions taken by a “disruptive” Trump administration that has undone the FCPA and other long standing ethics norms. Trump’s actions “send a message to corrupt politicians across the country. It says the…
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