State of Illinois Archives: on Government Reform
Alan Keyes:
Reinstate that state legislatures elect US Senators
Q: [to Keyes]: You’ve publicly endorsed the repeal of the 17th Amendment, which gives individual voters rather than the state legislature the right to choose their US Senators. I’m just wondering how you reconcile your claim to empower voters when you
would disenfranchise them in your own Senate race.KEYES: Senators were originally chosen by the state legislatures for the simple reason that the US Senate was supposed to represent the state government as sovereign entities. Our laws in
Illinois are passed by the state legislature. Are the people disenfranchised in the passing of these laws? I don’t think so.
OBAMA: I think [Illinois citizens] should be voting, not state legislatures. I teach constitutional law at the University of
Chicago and I understand that’s how the constitution was framed. It also prohibited anyone but white, male property owners from voting. That’s why we had amendments. It’s a funny way to empower people to take their vote away.
Source: Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes
Oct 21, 2004
Alexi Giannoulias:
Public election financing reduces special interest influence
Alexi will take bold action to clean up our campaign process & to ensure that Congress is committed to citizens, not its largest campaign contributors:- Alexi is the first US Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse campaign contributions fro
federal lobbyists & corporate PACs.
- Alexi supports making government more transparent. He firmly believes that an open government will help restore the public's trust in elected officials & make it easier for taxpayers to hold leaders accountable.
- Alexi would spearhead the effort to create a public "contracts and influence" database, to track campaign contributions made by government contractors and the services they provide.
- Alexi will work to dramatically increase lobbyist disclosure
requirements.
- Across the country, states and local governments have implemented publicly financed campaigns. Public financing of elections limits runaway spending and reduces the influence of special interest money in the campaign process.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, AlexiForIllinois.com, "Issues"
Dec 25, 2009
Alexi Giannoulias:
Wasteful programs go hand-in-hand with campaign contributors
Our campaign finance system is broken. While the campaign coffers of D.C. politicians are flush with corporate cash, Americans have seen their health care costs double, and their jobs shipped overseas. It's the most open secret in Washington: pay-to-play
politics, sweetheart deals and wasteful programs often go hand-in-hand with deep-pocketed campaign contributors. Alexi's very first action as Illinois State Treasurer was to sign the strongest ethics order in state government.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, AlexiForIllinois.com, "Issues"
Dec 25, 2009
Ameya Pawar:
Automatic voter registration
Voting is at the center of our civic life. Eliminating barriers that keep people from the ballot box are key to competitive elections, which ensure elected officials are responsive to the needs of their communities.
That's why Ameya supports automatic voter registration, which would register virtually every adult to vote unless they decline.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website pawar2018.com
Sep 1, 2017
Andrea Zopp:
Voter ID laws are intended to limit the Black vote
Black voter apathy is simply wrong in light of our history and the current attacks across the country on our right to vote. Let's start with our history. Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, African Americans across the country, but particularly in
the South, were systematically prevented from exercising their right to vote. My own grandfather who lived in Mississippi was told that in order to vote he had to recite the Bill of Rights to the Constitution from memory.
History repeats itself.
We entered this election season with voter ID and other types of voter suppression laws in 17 states that could deprive an estimated 700,000 young people of color the right to vote. Across the country, but particularly in critical swing states like
Florida, Virginia and Ohio, efforts are underway to limit the Black vote.
If Black votes mean nothing, if African Americans have no political power, no ability to influence or effect government, why are people so intent on preventing us from voting?
Source: Huffington Post column by Zopp for 2016 Illinois Senate race
Oct 12, 2012
Anne Stava-Murray:
Favor legislative term limits
Term limits for legislative leaders are necessary to avoid dangerous consolidations of power.
If eight years is good enough for the president, it should be good enough for Illinois House legislative leaders. Elections should be enforceable term limits for legislators.
Source: Chicago Daily Herald on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Oct 22, 2018
Anne Stava-Murray:
End gerrymandering and voter suppression
One of the largest barriers to competitive elections is the unfair mapping process that prioritizes making "safe" seats for each party. We need campaign finance reform to reduce the undue influence of donors and political parties.
We need an end to voter suppression tactics in all their various forms. Finally, there are extreme barriers to entry to getting on the ballot that could be reduced at almost every point.
Source: Chicago Daily Herald on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Oct 22, 2018
Barack Obama:
Electing US Senators empowers people: keep 17th Amendment
Q: [to Keyes]: You’ve publicly endorsed the repeal of the 17th Amendment, which gives individual voters rather than the state legislature the right to choose their US Senators. Doesn’t that disenfranchise people?KEYES: Senators were originally chosen
by the state legislatures for the simple reason that the US Senate was supposed to represent the state government as sovereign entities. Our laws in Illinois are passed by the state legislature. Are the people disenfranchised in the passing of these laws
I don’t think so.
OBAMA: Listen, I love my colleagues in the state legislature but I think [Illinois citizens] should be voting, not state legislatures. I have a little understanding about our constitution because I teach constitutional law at the
University of Chicago and I understand that’s how the constitution was framed. It also prohibited anyone but white, male property owners from voting. That’s why we had amendments. It’s a funny way to empower people to take their vote away.
Source: Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes
Oct 21, 2004
Bruce Rauner:
Reduce lobbyist influence; push for term limits
Illinois has one of the most expensive state governments in America, yet we have the worst run government bar none. Why?Illinois has been completely taken over by special interest groups that get money from government. The lobbyists write the bills
for special interests, the career politicians in both parties let it happen--and we, the taxpayers, get left with the bill. It's time to make government work for us, not the other way around.
I'm not interested in a political career and don't need
money from the special interests. As governor, I will take them on directly and bring accountability back to state government. To do that, we can:- Push for term limits. No governor should be allowed to serve for more than 8 years, and the legislature
should be term limited as well.
- Allow state workers to choose whether they want to join a government employees union, instead of being forced to do so.
- Control spending, because bigger government means more corruption.
Source: 2014 Illinois Gubernatorial campaign website BruceRauner.com
Nov 4, 2014
Bruce Rauner:
Pursue devolution to control costs
To create true long-term property tax relief for our taxpayers, we've got to give local governments a way to control costs. Some have said local control is impossible, and yet many in this
Chamber have embraced it before, voting repeatedly to give Chicago more control in its contracting and collective bargaining rules. We should not force other mayors and school boards to come to Springfield to beg for more control.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Illinois legislature
Jan 27, 2016
Bruce Rauner:
Term limits need to be voted on
The people of Illinois deserve the chance to vote on term limits.
The state Supreme Court made it clear that it takes legislative action to put term limits on the ballot. This is the year to make that happen.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Illinois legislature
Jan 27, 2016
Bruce Rauner:
The people demanded fair districting; judges denied them
We worked hard to change our broken political system and restore competitive general elections in our state. We encouraged the people of Illinois to put more than one million signatures on petitions to get term limits and fair maps on the ballot.
Unfortunately, our judges, who themselves are elected through our state political process, decided that a million signatures weren't enough. They decided that only you, the members of the General Assembly, could pass the necessary legislation to enable
the voters to have their say.I ask you [the legislature] today, on behalf of all the people of Illinois--Democrats and Republicans--please do the right thing and pass the bills to put term limits and fair maps on the ballot.
Let the people decide these issues for themselves. End the power of incumbency and special interest groups, and give power back to the people of our state. Illinois turns 200 in 2018.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Illinois Legislature
Jan 25, 2017
Bruce Rauner:
Automatic voter registration when getting any state ID
Legislative Summary: The Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections shall establish an automatic voter registration program that: -
If an application, or renewal, a change of address form, for a driver's license, then that application shall serve as a dual-purpose application.
-
The dual-purpose application shall also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois; provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 48-0-11 on May 5; passed House 115-0-3 on May 29; signed by Gov. Rauner on Aug. 28.
Source: Illinois legislative voting records: SB 1933
Aug 28, 2017
Chris Kennedy:
Automatic voter registration
Kennedy believes that Illinois' government is rigged. Illinois' regressive tax system takes more money from the low-income and middle class pockets than almost any other state. The only way to fix our broken government is to make elected officials
accountable to the people who put them in office. Chris supports automatic voter registration, setting term limits, and redistricting reform that ensures rural communities and communities of color are fairly represented.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website KennedyForIllinois.com
Sep 1, 2017
Daniel Biss:
Political system favors billionaires & machine politicians
State Sen. Daniel Biss formally announced his Democratic candidacy for governor, assailing a broken system he says favors his political opponents. "We have a political system where billionaires and machine politicians are the ones who are listened to.
That's the system we have to change," Biss, who has represented Evanston for six years in legislature, said in a 25-minute Facebook Live video."We have to build a movement of the people because the question fundamentally is, 'Who do politicians feel
obligated to listen to?' In Illinois, the public has set very low expectations and we can understand why," he said.
Biss' indictment of Illinois' system of government covered a wide swath, including not only
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner but also Democratic rivals for governor. Rauner dismissed Biss as "part of the system."
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race
Mar 20, 2017
Daniel Biss:
Automatic voter registration when getting any state ID
Legislative Summary: The Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections shall establish an automatic voter registration program that: -
If an application, or renewal, a change of address form, for a driver's license, then that application shall serve as a dual-purpose application.
-
The dual-purpose application shall also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois; provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 48-0-11 on May 5; Sen. Daniel Biss sponsored bill on Feb.14 and then voted YEA; passed House 115-0-3 on May 29; signed by Gov. Rauner on Aug. 28.
Source: Illinois legislative voting records: SB 1933
Feb 14, 2017
Darren Bailey:
Strongly supports and advocates for term limits
Darren Bailey fights for the working people, not the political elites. As a legislator, he refuses state pension benefits and believes that perks for elected officials only contribute to wasteful spending problems. Darren strongly supports and
advocates for term limits to prevent career politicians from advancing their own agendas, rather than what is best for Illinois. As Governor, he will promote transparency and ensure safeguards against powerful government overreach.
Source: 2021 Gubernatorial campaign website BaileyForIllinois.com
May 30, 2021
Doug Truax:
Political class fails to put interests of taxpayers first
Doug Truax lashed out at state Sen. Jim Oberweis' "yes" vote on Tuesday's landmark pension reform bill. "Illinois is the worst run state in America due to a political class--largely Democrats--that consistently fails to put the interests of everyday
taxpayers first," Truax said in a statement. "My opponent, Jim Oberweis, knows this but voted anyway in favor of a tepid pension reform bill that is likely to result in further tax increases and a continued stagnant economy. Every other financial 'fix'
passed in Springfield the past decade has harmed taxpayers. Mr. Oberweis needs to explain why he so easily voted with the status quo that never solves problems but rather transfers them to the next generation."Oberweis voted in favor of the measure
that promises to ultimately save the state $160 billion. In his remarks from the Illinois Senate floor, Oberweis said the bill wasn't true reform--but it was the best that Illinois was going to get right now.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times on 2014 Illinois Senate race
Dec 4, 2013
J.B. Pritzker:
End legislators serving as paid lobbyists
We must take action to restore the public's trust in our government. That's why we need to pass real, lasting ethics reform this legislative session. It's time to end the practice of legislators serving as paid lobbyists. In fact it's time to end the
for-profit influence peddling among all elected officials at every level of government in Illinois. Disclosure of conflicts of interest and punishment for breaching them must be included in any ethics package for us to truly clean up government.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address
Jan 29, 2020
J.B. Pritzker:
Overturn Citizens United; strengthen campaign finance laws
Campaign Finance: Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations and unions?
Pritzker: No. Wants to overturn it, and strengthen Illinois campaign finance laws.
Rauner: Unknown.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Illinois Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
J.B. Pritzker:
Expand voting rights of prisoners until convicted
Voting Rights: Support stricter voting rules such as voter ID requirements or reduced registration times, even if they prevent some people from voting?
Pritzker: No. Running mate supports process to expand voting rights of prisoners who haven't yet been convicted.
Rauner: No. But vetoed legislation that would have expanded rights to prisoners who haven't yet been convicted.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Illinois Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
J.B. Pritzker:
Pass ethics legislation, restore public trust
It's time to pass ethics legislation this year. Nobody should hold the title of both legislator and lobbyist at the same time. We need meaningful disclosure of conflicts of interest.
We must end the General Assembly's revolving door allowing legislators to get paid as lobbyists the day after they leave office. Restoring the public's trust is of paramount importance. There is too much that needs to be done.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 17, 2021
Jeanne Ives:
Automatic voter registration when getting any state ID
Legislative Summary: The Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections shall establish an automatic voter registration program that: -
If an application, or renewal, a change of address form, for a driver's license, then that application shall serve as a dual-purpose application.
-
The dual-purpose application shall also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois; provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 48-0-11 on May 5; Rep. Jeanne Ives voted YEA; passed House 115-0-3 on May 29; signed by Gov. Rauner on Aug. 28.
Source: Illinois legislative voting records: SB 1933
May 29, 2017
Jesse Sullivan:
Biden won in 2020, but we need to fix trust in elections
[On 2020 election]: "Joe Biden won the race. Joe Biden is the president of the United States and Donald Trump had his day in court," he said. "What I'll say about election integrity is that right now, you have people on both sides, Democrat, Republican--
it switches from election to election--that feel like our elections, there's something wrong with them. I'm a technology person & I feel like this is the 21st century. Why are we still having problems of trust around our elections? We need to fix that."
Source: WCIA on 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial race
Sep 12, 2021
Jim Oberweis:
Automatic voter registration when getting any state ID
Legislative Summary: The Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections shall establish an automatic voter registration program that: -
If an application, or renewal, a change of address form, for a driver's license, then that application shall serve as a dual-purpose application.
-
The dual-purpose application shall also serve as an application to register to vote in Illinois; provide the applicant with an opportunity to affirmatively decline to register to vote
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 48-0-11 on May 5; Sen. Jim Oberweis voted YEA; passed House 115-0-3 on May 29; signed by Gov. Rauner on Aug. 28.
Source: Illinois legislative voting records: SB 1933
Feb 14, 2017
Kathy Salvi:
Does not claim Biden won through election fraud
Salvi was one of the more moderate Republicans in the seven-candidate primary race. She has acknowledged the legitimacy of the
Biden presidency and did not claim election fraud led to Biden's victory in 2020.
Source: Daily Herald on 2022 Illinois Senate race
Jun 29, 2022
Mark Curran:
Supports term limits for Congress
Curran said, "Dick Durbin is part of the status quo that has led our great country and our hard-working families to the brink of bankruptcy due to record federal government spending, record federal government borrowing and record federal government
debt with no end in sight. We can't change Washington until we change the people in Washington, so I say that we need to enforce our own term limits. Anyone who has been in Washington DC for more than 12 years needs to be sent home."
Source: Shelbyville Daily Union on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Oct 10, 2019
Mike Bost:
No political contributions from the gambling industry
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support banning political contributions from the gambling industry?
A: Yes.
Source: 2000 Illinois National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Napoleon Harris:
Allow voter registration on Election Day or at early voting
HB 105 Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration: Bill Passed Senate (39 - 17); Napoleon Harris voted Yea Highlights: - Extends the grace period for voter registration through Election Day
- Authorizes an individual to cast a provisional ballot
if that individual registered to vote during the grace period.
- Authorizes a "qualified" individual to register to vote or submit a change of address form at an early voting polling place
- Extends the early voting period for the 2014 general election
through the second day before Election Day
- Exempts an individual who votes early during the 2014 general election from being required to present an identification card in order to vote
- Requires an election authority that has universities in its
jurisdiction to conduct in-person absentee voting on Election Day in a "high-traffic" location on campus
- Requires an early voting polling place to remain open at least 9:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. beginning 8 days before Election Day
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2014 Illinois voting records
May 30, 2014
Napoleon Harris:
Automatic voter registration when getting driving license
Senator Harris co-sponsored legislation SB2134: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that each person applying at a driver services facility for a driver's license or permit, a corrected driver's license or permit, an
Illinois identification card or a corrected Illinois identification card shall be notified that the person shall be registered (rather than may apply to register) to vote, and if his or her address has changed,
his or her voter registration information shall be updated (rather than may be transferred upon application) to the new address within this State. Provides that the person may decline to register to
vote and the employee or the Secretary of State shall not transmit the person's information to the applicable election authority.
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record
May 18, 2015
Pat Quinn:
Limits on campaign contributions and much more disclosure
Obviously, the events that preceded my Oath of Office shook the confidence of the people of Illinois. So we went about the task: we enacted strong standards with respect to procurement and contracts. We reformed the behavior; we enacted strong ethic
standards for lobbyists as well as state employees. We enacted a campaign finance reform law that I did sign, that is for the first time a chance to have limits on campaign contributions in the State of Illinois and much more disclosure and openness
with respect to money and politics. I think that's a great achievement.
I think we do need in Illinois, what I would call, an ethics initiative that we would put into our constitution that would give voters at every level of government - whether it
be the local level, or county level, or the state level - the power to petition and binding referendum to enact binding ethical standards and campaign finance rules that the people feel are appropriate for all of us who are elected representatives.
Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Pat Quinn:
Online voter registration and no party in primary voting
In our Illinois, we embrace the voices and the votes of all people. Our democracy is strongest when more voters raise their voices at the ballot box. That's why Illinois should join 15 other states in making voter registration available online.
We must move our election process into the 21st century. And while we're at it, let's pass a long overdue law to allow voters to participate in primary elections without having to publicly declare their party affiliation.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Illinois Legislature
Feb 6, 2013
Pat Quinn:
Enact power of petition to recall a corrupt governor
In our Illinois, government belongs to the people, not to the office holders. Citizens should be able at all times to trust their elected officials. Four years ago, Illinois was the Wild West of campaign fundraising. We had a corrupt governor removed
from office and headed to prison, and another already in prison, both for fundraising abuses. This was not our Illinois. So we changed it. We passed a strong ethics code for office holders and public employees. For the first time in history, we enacted
campaign contribution limits.And we gave the people of Illinois the ability to use the power of petition to recall a corrupt governor. But we have more work to do.
In 1976, I led a petition drive to ban conflict of interest voting in the General
Assembly. 635,158 voters signed this petition--the greatest number of signatures ever gathered on a single petition in Illinois history. Silence about conflict of interest voting wasn't our Illinois then, and it's not our Illinois now. We can do better.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Illinois Legislature
Feb 6, 2013
Paul Schimpf:
People fleeing from taxes, excessive government regulations
[On state governance during the pandemic]: "My lifelong dream was not to be in politics or be Illinois governor," Schimpf said. "But I decided over the past year, while I was watching our state deteriorate, that I wanted to do something
about what is happening. Illinoisans, in many cases, are no longer proud of the state where we grew up. We all watched as our friends and neighbors are fleeing the state because of corruption, high taxes and excessive government regulations."
Source: Quad City Times on 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial race
Feb 15, 2021
Peggy Hubbard:
I will oppose the job-killing big government policies
Big government liberal policies have failed the people of Illinois. It's time to get serious about tackling this problem head-on. As U.S. Senator, I will oppose the job-killing big government policies that have plagued our state
for decades and will fight to lower taxes, reduce the size of government and pass legislation that creates economic opportunities that will allow the residents of Illinois to unleash our true potential.
Source: 2022 Illinois Senate website PeggyHubbardForSenate.com
Apr 19, 2022
Peggy Hubbard:
For term limits, keeping the filibuster, voter I.D.
Hubbard listed the planks of her platform: "America first, defend the police, protect your 2nd Amendment rights, stop federal funding for
CRT, term limits, smaller government, keeping the filibuster, voter I.D., slowing government spending and defunding Planned Parenthood."
Source: Metro East Sun on 2022 Illinois Senate race
Jul 26, 2021
Raja Krishnamoorthi:
Campaign finance reforms to enable citizen participation
Raja opposes the unfettered influx of corporate and special interest money in politics made possible by the Supreme Court's wrong-headed Citizens United decision. Raja will work to make sure that the voices of working people and the poor aren't drowned
out by special interests.