Politicians often run for office making promises to voters such as they won't raise taxes, make government transparent, or cut government spending. Unfortunately, many politicians quickly turn their backs on their promises to the voters once safely elected.

The idea of a pledge is simple enough: Make politicians put their promises into writing. Pledges are an excellent way to hold legislators accountable on their promises to voters.

Below are a number of pledges you can ask elected officials and candidates for office to sign. By engaging politicians by asking them to sign pledges you can figure out who is on your side of the issues and who isn't.

Illinois Policy Institute Pledges

Repeal the Income Tax Hike Pledge

The Illinois Policy Institute has asked all candidates for and members of the Illinois General Assembly  positions to sign the Repeal the Income Tax Hike Pledge and commit to honest, sustainable, and accountable government.

List of signers and additional information.

Transparency Pledge

The Illinois Policy Institute invites all elected officials and candidates running for federal, state, and local offices in Illinois to sign our Transparency Pledge to ensure an open and honest accounting of taxpayers spending in Illinois.

List of signers and additional information.

End Legislative Scholarship Abuse (Senate) & (House)

The Illinois General Assembly Legislative Scholarship” allows each Illinois Senator and Representative to give away 8 years of college education to a state school absolutely free to students who live in the district. The program has been seriously abused over the years with the Chicago Tribune recently explaining, “We could fill this page with story after story after story of lawmakers who bestowed full-ride scholarships on the children of their staffers, campaign donors, business associates, political cronies, even their own kids. It's been going on for decades.”

Liberty Coalition Partner Pledges

Institute for Truth in Accounting: Illinois' Public Accountability Pledge

To be informed participants of the State’s budget process, the citizens of Illinois and their representatives need to know the deficit that will result, if a proposed budget is implemented. Providing such information is an essential part of public accountability.

If elected to an office of Illinois state government, I acknowledge I am in a position of trust to the voters of my district and commit myself to meaningful public accountability.

List of signers and additional information.

Americans for Tax Reform: Taxpayer Protection Pledge

I, ________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _______ District of the state of _______ and all the people of this state that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.

List of signers and additional information.

I pledge to urge my Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:

• Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.
• Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
  
• Balance - Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.
  

List of signers and additional information.