On June 18, Alderman Matt Martin, a progressive and chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, introduced a comprehensive ordinance aimed at reducing the influence of big money in Chicago politics. The proposal seeks to use taxpayer funds to match small campaign donations to City Council candidates, potentially providing up to $200,000 in public funds per candidate. This initiative, estimated to cost the city $9.5 million, is intended to counteract the dominance of wealthy donors in local elections. Martin has described Chicago’s current campaign finance system as broken and emphasized the need for reform to ensure a more equitable political landscape. He discussed the legislation at a news conference.
Campaign donations. https://t.co/By8afghd28
Chicago City Council candidates would get as much as $200,000 in public funds linked to small contributions if a new ordinance proposed passes. The legislation aims to dampen the oversized influence of wealthy donors, he said at a news conference Tuesday. https://t.co/og0W2ul6qg
Calling Chicago’s campaign finance system broken, the chair of the City Council’s Ethics Committee urged his colleagues to approve a plan to use taxpayer money to match small contributions to candidates for City Council. https://t.co/pTgy507X4D
Taxpayer money should match Chicago campaign donations, alderman proposes https://t.co/xiLDgcwh2l @jakesheridan_
Chicago elections could soon be rewired by a new bucket of cash: taxpayer-funded matching money that multiplies small-dollar campaign contributions. https://t.co/A3kSjb4fuA
"Progressive" alderman Matt Martin wants to make it so taxpayer money is GIVEN to politicians by matching "small" donations. Really, it's just a cash grab to bolster their (his) campaign funds. "The public campaign financing plan would cost the city an estimated $9.5 million in… https://t.co/k3xJcnmmIP
Taxpayer money should match Chicago campaign donations, alderman proposes https://t.co/dUoRVhA44M
Ald. Matt Martin (47th), chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, has introduced a sweeping ordinance that aims to at least begin the formidable task of getting the big money out of Chicago politics — but at taxpayers’ expense. https://t.co/WFAohtS8Go