Citizenship 101: How to be a more involved Illinoisan

By Brad Weisenstein

08/01/2021

What you need to know to better get answers about what local and state government leaders are doing in Illinois.

TAGS: budget, corruption, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, government services, government spending, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income tax, Open Meetings Act, property taxes, taxes

How to file a Freedom of Information Act request in Illinois

07/29/2021

Watching government and how taxes are spent isn’t always a simple process, but a useful tool helps obtain records to see the inner workings of schools, cities and state agencies: the Illinois Freedom of Information Act

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

Oakbrook Terrace mayor resigns amid red-light camera probe

01/23/2020

Federal investigators have been digging into the political corruption surrounding red-light cameras, including a pair of the multi-million dollar traffic devices in Oakbrook Terrace.

TAGS: FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, SafeSpeed, Susana Mendoza, Tony Ragucci

Pritzker’s office says they can’t find the math behind his tax plan

By Austin Berg

03/15/2019

The governor’s office issued a concerning response to a simple request for the numbers backing up his “fair tax” proposal.

TAGS: fair tax, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois Supreme Court ruling a victory for government transparency

By Jeffrey Schwab

05/24/2018

The court’s ruling strengthens Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act, a crucial tool in holding government officials accountable.

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, Illinois Supreme Court

Madigan’s rules kill reform efforts

08/11/2017

A post-mortem on Illinois’ 2017 regular legislative session shows missed opportunities for taxpayer savings.

TAGS: death tax, estate tax, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, house rules, Mike Madigan, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act

By Joe Tabor

08/31/2016

According to a ruling from Illinois’ attorney general, government employees cannot conceal work-related communication on private email, despite the Chicago Police Department’s arguments for it.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, police

Secret emails at University of Illinois show need for reformed FOIA requirements

By Jeffrey Schwab

08/13/2015

Governments and government agencies should adopt policies that prohibit officials from using their personal email addresses to conduct government business.

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

Closing imaginary loopholes in Illinois’ public-records law

By David Giuliani

04/24/2015

While the Freedom of Information Act is abundantly clear, secrecy-obsessed bureaucrats often claim exemption.

TAGS: College of DuPage, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

5 reasons FOIA bill would crush government watchdogs in corrupt Illinois

By Brian Costin

11/28/2014

HB 3796 would hamstring watchdogs in a state riddled with corruption. Lawmakers should let Quinn’s veto stand.

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, good government