In a Chicago Sun-Times article, the Better Government Association reports that billionaires are sending thousands of dollars to Illinois candidates, money that some see as an attempt to influence legislation related to education.
Bruce Rauner, from his campaign website
We find an example of this kind of money flowing into Illinois politics in this morning’s news from WTAX Radio in Springfield.
The station reports that Bruce Rauner, the Republican Party’s nominee for governor, received a $2.5 million campaign contribution from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, 45, whose contributions to Mr Rauner’s campaign now total $3.57 million.
Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois, Springfield, told WTAX the donation is the biggest in an Illinois governor’s race in the post-Watergate era. That’s 42 years!
Quoting a spokeswoman for Gov Pat Quinn’s campaign, the station noted that Mr Rauner’s contributions to his own campaign opened the door for unlimited contributions in the race. The spokeswoman reportedly said Mr Rauner and his “billionaire pals” are trying to “take over Illinois.”
