---
title: Fast Cash and Campaign Gimmicks: A Lesson from Chicago - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: WyLib warns against Wyoming dark money regulations, citing Chicago where aggressive disclosure laws enable harassment of political opponents.
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Explore ### Timeless Topics <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/fast-cash-and-campaign-gimmicks-a-lesson-from-chicago?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # Fast Cash and Campaign Gimmicks: A Lesson from Chicago \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) Monday, 08 December 2014 As Wyoming and other states \[consider expanding the reach of campaign finance\](http://www.centredaily.com/2014/11/26/4479468/wyoming-campaign-finance-bill.html) laws to capture "dark money," some consideration of \[what's happening in Chicago\](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-rahm-emanuel-fundraising-caps-20141127-story.html) is helpful. Aggressive campaign finance regulations, touted as combatting corruption, allow for easy manipulation of the law. We learned last week that Rahm Emanuel pulled in $400,000 in campaign contributions to his mayoral campaign due to an obscure part of Illinois campaign finance law. Under Illinois law, when wealthy candidates self-finance their campaigns with $100,000 or more in local races, contribution limits are eliminated for every opponent. In Chicago, frequent—and frequently unsuccessful—candidate William Kelly filed papers to run for mayor of Chicago. Then he decided to not really run. Then a check showed up for $200,000 to Emanuel's campaign from the Maryland Pipefitters PAC. Then another one showed up for $100,00 from a Texas hedge fund manager. And on and on it goes. No one knows whether Emanuel and Kelly are gaming the system, but one thing is clear: complicated campaign finance laws are easily manipulated and lead to unintended consequences. In the Chicago mayoral race, candidates are only allowed to fundraise as much as they'd like without limits when a wealthy candidate runs. That means that innovative, unheard of voices that might do well in an ordinary election can't because of oppressive contribution caps. It also means that wealthy candidates might be less likely to run knowing that it is only their presence that triggers the removal of these caps. Campaign finance law, however well intentioned, just invites \[manipulation\](http://www.ij.org/arizona-campaign-finance-release-6-27-2011). It also takes a quintessentially American activity—running for office or sharing your political views in public—and makes it a professional endeavor. Suddenly, accountants, lawyers, and advisors must guide your every step. And it usually favors some groups at the expense of others. Deregulated election law embraces everyone's right to speak and associate as they see fit. It imposes no artificial upper limits on how supportive you can be of a candidate, how you choose to associate with other Americans, or how loudly you speak. Interestingly, it invites a truly open and honest competition of ideas without burying a free people in campaign finance red tape. The First Amendment also inspires it, and that's campaign finance we can believe in. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[First Amendment\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/first-amendment) \[Free Speech\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/free-speech) \[2015 General Session\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/2015-general-session) \[ Anti-Oil Crowd Wants to Have It Both Ways \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/anti-oil-crowd-wants-to-have-it-both-ways) \[ Net Neutrality: The War on Freedom \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/net-neutrality-the-war-on-freedom) #### Related Posts ### \[There is No Direct Democracy Solution for Local Control of Data Centers in Wyoming\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/there-is-no-direct-democracy-solution-for-local-control-of-data-centers-in-wyoming) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) ### \[Wyoming “Synthetic Media” Bill Aims at Deep Fakes, Hits Free Speech\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-synthetic-media-bill-aims-at-deep-fakes-hits-free-speech) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[“News Source Shield Law” Treats Journalists as a Special Interest\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/news-source-shield-law-treats-journalists-as-a-special-interest) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[The Celebrated Fake Frog That Is Taking Down the Deep State\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/the-celebrated-fake-frog-that-is-taking-down-the-deep-state) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Regulating “Dark Money” is Code for Censorship\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/regulating-dark-money-is-code-for-censorship) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Defense Distributed and Citizens United: From Banning Guns to Banning Books\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/defense-distributed-and-citizens-united-from-banning-guns-to-banning-books) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))