Updated Candidate Contribution Information on Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Website, New Tools for Journalists and Voters

CHICAGO, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) on Friday posted updated campaign contributor information at http://www.ILcampaign.org and will make frequent revisions to expand the list of big campaign contributors in the days leading up to the Nov. 2nd general election.

"The Sunshine Database at www.ILcampaign.org is the only Illinois website that has gone the extra mile to standardize donor names and code them by interest group," said Cynthia Canary, Director of ICPR.   "Because political campaign reports to the state often include variations and outright misspellings in donor names and addresses, it can be time-consuming and sometimes impossible to get an accurate picture of contribution activity from the campaign committee reports alone.

"We've made it much easier to follow the money," Canary said.  "In the last few weeks of a political campaign, many candidates are dialing frantically for last-minute campaign contributions to pay for more commercials, phone banks and voter turnout efforts.   We'll be busy posting names and tabulating contributions to help voters know where candidates receive the bulk of their funds."

ICPR's website updates include the following:

• Each statewide and legislative candidate's top 15 contributors will be listed with their total contributions from Jan. 1, 2009 and through Oct. 14, 2010; and numbers will be updated at least twice each week through Nov. 2nd.

• Visitors can search by candidate name or by district number to find more detailed information about contributors to those candidates and by a contributor name to see what campaign committees received contributions from that contributor.

• By plugging in a home address, a voter will see a list of their legislative and statewide candidates, together with links to details about each candidate's top contributors, questionnaire responses, statements of economic interest and other biographical information.

About the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization conducting research and advocating reforms to promote public participation in government, address the role of money in politics and encourage integrity, accountability and transparency in government. The late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon founded ICPR in 1997.

CONTACT:  312-335-1767

SOURCE Illinois Campaign for Political Reform