Via NPR It was February of 2009. President Obama had been in office less than a full month. His approval rating was over 60, and nearly 60 percent of the House and Senate seats were held by Democrats. The country…
Read MoreVia The Chicago Tribune At the gathering to kick off the campaign to elect Jennifer Planson, Bill Carpenter and Kathleen Hirsman to the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board, campaign manager Joan Brandeis said they warned the people there it…
Read MoreVia The Chicago Tribune Voters sent a warning to more than 1 in 4 sitting aldermen this week, forcing them into one-on-one contests April 7 against challengers who are trying to create a wave of discontent with the status quo…
Read Morevia The Chicago Tribune In the sometimes quirky and symbolic math of politics, Mayor Rahm Emanuel lost the expectations game Tuesday, even though he captured more votes in a re-election bid than any of the four rivals hoping to unseat…
Read MoreVia Aljazeera America Chicago voters endorsed by a wide margin Tuesday a plan to institute public campaign financing and limit outside contributions. The ballot measure, though non-binding, begins a process that will now move to city and state government, where…
Read MoreVia Reboot Illinois Dishonest Chicago aldermen, crooked Cook County pols, sleazy suburban overlords and untoward state officials. There’s also: infamous shoeboxes stuffed with thousands in embezzled cash, courtesy of the late Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell; the groundbreaking “Hired…
Read MoreVia The Chicago Tribune At the gathering to kick off the campaign to elect Jennifer Planson, Bill Carpenter and Kathleen Hirsman to the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board, campaign manager Joan Brandeis said they warned the people there it…
Read MoreThe Voters have spoken. They want big money out of campaigns for good. The following advisory referendum on yesterday’s ballot was overwhelmingly approved: “Should the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois reduce the influence of special interest money in…
Read MoreVia Common Cause As they made their choices in the most expensive mayoral election in the city’s history, Chicagoans also pleaded for relief from big money’s dominance of local and state politics, Common Cause said tonight. With over 80 percent…
Read MoreVia Chicagoist Campaign finance reform groups have tried, mostly in vain, since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision to stem the tide of big money being funneled into the political process. Super PACs have become the norm, as a smaller…
Read More