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ONE STEP ON THE ROAD TO REFORM

Limits on money coming into the political system for the first time in Illinois.

Not just limits but sets up a framework for better disclosure and enforcement.

• Speedy disclosure of $1,000 and above
• Auditing of committees.
• Quarterly reports from committees.
• Creates complaint database of SBE actions/fines.

Primary limits on leaders are far lower than what was offered AND they are aggregate limits.

Limits on leaders are low enough to be meaningful and include in-kind expenditures.

Limits on parties in primary apply to ALL candidates, not just legislative and statewide.

Legislative caucus committees cannot transfer money between each other.

No constituent services committees.

This creates a foundation we can build on.

Task force will provide a sound basis for evaluating how Illinois’ campaign finance system is working and will help keep pressure on for limits in general election and public financing.

WHY LIMITS IN PRIMARY ARE VALUABLE

Encourage more people to challenge incumbent or party-backed candidate. Helps level playing field for challengers.

2008 primary –

• Of 80 potential primaries in Senate (40D and 40R), only 8 were contested.
• Of 236 potential primaries in House, only 23 were contested.
• In contrast, 15 of the 38 potential congressional primaries in Illinois had contested primaries.

In many districts, the primary is the REAL election.

2008 General --

• 21 of 40 Senate districts had NO opponent.
• 66 of 118 House districts had NO opponent.

We have 30 plus years of absolutely no limits with big money from political and private sources and it has produced a very uncompetitive system. So by limiting the big money we hope to more competition by lessening the advantage that those with access to big money have over those who do not have access to big money.