The president has been inaugurated. The 113th U.S. Congress has been sworn in. In Springfield, the 98th Illinois General Assembly is now in session.

It’s good that the 2012 election, the most expensive in history, is finally behind us. 

Unfortunately, with the gubernatorial election coming up next year, big donors are already gearing up for the race. Unless major steps are taken, elections dominated by super political action committees – like the 2012 election – just might be the new reality because of the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision that allows unlimited outside spending in elections.