FOR RELEASE:
September 24, 2024
PRESS CONTACT:
Deanna Shoss, Communications, 773-478-8417
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a descriptive explainer on the rules in place to prevent “pay-to-play” schemes with City government, and loopholes in the law which compromise its purpose.
“City Hall is not for sale. Political campaign contributions have been regulated to protect against corruption or the appearance of corruption,” says Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. “Critical gaps persist in the City’s current campaign finance laws which may allow functional equivalents of prohibited contributions. City Council has, in recent days, closed some loopholes, but there is more work to do. This explainer aims to provide Chicagoans with clear information about what is – and, critically, what isn’t and should be – against the rules when it comes to giving money to City actors.”
The report outlines the current laws that limit campaign contributions to elected City officials, candidates for City office, and officials or employees seeking election to any other office, and details gaps in those laws that allow certain entities to make unlimited campaign contributions, including labor unions, PACs, and owners and employees of entities doing business or seeking to do business with the City. Building on and codifying campaign finance rules would strengthen the City’s bulwarks against corruption.
Read the Report
Read the full report, released on September 24, 2024.
About the Office of Inspector General
The mission of the independent and nonpartisan City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption, waste, and mismanagement in City government. OIG is a watchdog for the taxpayers of the City and has jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into most aspects of City government.
If you see misconduct, mismanagement, ineffectiveness, or inefficiency, we need to hear from you.
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