Joe Calomino has worked in the field of government affairs and state politics for the last 17 years. During his career, Calomino has worked as a government liaison for various state constitutional officers, as a political strategist for state and local officials, and as a grassroots organizer and activist.

Currently, Calomino is the state director for the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP-IL). Americans for Prosperity is one of the premier grassroots citizen lobbyist organizations in the country with over 300,000 members nationwide. Americans for Prosperity is a citizen watchdog organization focused on promoting the free-market and issues such as budget reform, lower taxes, government transparency and accountability.

The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity was formed in August of 2006. AFP-IL has experienced exceptional growth in a relatively short period of time, reaching over 20,000 members throughout the state. AFP-IL has been the leader in fighting for government transparency both in the state of Illinois and the country. Over the course of the last two and a half years, AFP-IL has exposed billions of dollars worth of hidden spending in the state’s budget.

AFP-IL’s watchdog efforts prompted Calomino to work with Illinois lawmakers in developing comprehensive government transparency legislation. (HB35) “The Illinois Accountability Act” is currently being debated in the 96th General Assembly.

In July of 2008, Calomino joined with Washington DC based Judicial Watch in filing a lawsuit against the office of the Illinois governor and senate president for violations of the Freedom of Information Act. Calomino and Judicial Watch have recently provided testimony pertaining to government transparency at the recent House impeachment hearings and the newly formed “Reform Illinois Now Commission.”