Citizen Action/Illinois
From Judgepedia
Contents |
Mission
According to William McNary, Co-Director of Citizen Action/Illinois in a speech given in November 2007 to the USAction Delegates Assembly, "What will distinguish progressive values from the political mainstream is not just support for a set of policies, but a willingness to take risks and fight for key core values. This combination of moral clarity and self-confidence combined with smart, aggressive organizing projects an authenticity that appeals to voters across the spectrum."[1]
History
Citizen Action/Illinois was formed in 1997 to work in the interests both in Springfield, Illinois and Washington, D.C, and is now the state's largest public interest organization. To advance their objectives of labor and the progressive movement, the group as a tradition of grassroots citizen organizations. The organization promotes public policies that reflect these beliefs: "that every human has equal worth, that the purpose of our society is to allow its members to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, and that there is collective good beyond our individual interests."[2]
Purpose and Objective
The Issue Campaigns listed on the website include health care, fair taxes and economic justice, consumer rights, public education, the environment, predatory lending, civil justice, and elections and progressive leadership.
Board of Directors and Policy Council
Funding
In the News: Articles
Citizen Action/Illinois pushing for Public Campaign Finance (January 31, 2007)
Under a new type of election reform, called "clean elections," candidates voluntarily choose to fund their campaigns with public money. Participants agree not to take money from special-interest groups, or even citizens, except for a small amount of "seed money" that's eventually put into a state pool. In return, they get a set amount of money with which to run their campaigns. Candidates can also choose to fund their campaigns privately.
Lynda DeLaforgue is co-director of Citizen Action/Illinois, which is pushing for public financing for judicial campaigns. She said that initiative is a baby step. Publicly financed elections are "a tough sell in the Illinois state legislature," she said. "We've always been called the Wild Wild West of campaign finance, and that hasn't changed." The Illinois Senate has twice passed public financing for judicial elections, DeLaforgue said, but the bill hasn't gotten any traction in the House. Speaker Michael Madigan, she added, hasn't been antagonistic to the legislation, but "it hasn't been a priority."[3]
