ICPR Spotcheck for August 31, 2011
Spotcheck for August 31, 2011
*Mapping in the Dark: Read ICPR's new report chronicling the lack of transparency in Illinois' 2011 redistricting
*Rollback to the Freedom of Information Act gets quiet approval from Gov. Pat Quinn
*Join us for our Fall Fundraiser!
*Calling out Conflict of Interest
*Mapping in the Dark: Read ICPR's new report chronicling the lack of transparency in Illinois' 2011 redistricting
Democratic legislative leaders who controlled this year's state legislative and congressional redistricting process pledged to open up the historically secretive process to the public. But their actions fell far short of what Illinois residents deserved.
ICPR's new report, "Mapping in the Dark," shows how lawmakers shut out the public from this once-in-a-decade process. Check out this unique look at the 2011 redistricting process and our recommendations on how Illinois can guarantee residents a spot at the table during the next cycle.
*Rollback to the Freedom of Information Act gets quiet approval from Gov. Pat Quinn
Without fanfare, Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday afternoon signed into law House Bill 1716, a rollback to the state's Freedom of Information Act. The legislation, which ICPR opposed, allows public bodies to delay indefinitely responding to certain records requests, and gives public bodies the ability to charge new, unlimited, fees to some businesses seeking public records. ICPR is disappointed the governor, who has long positioned himself as an open government advocate, has approved this proposal. Newspapers across the state have chided Gov. Quinn for this action, echoing ICPR's call that Illinois needs more transparency -- not less.
In their editorials and coverage of the new law, the news media has taken Quinn to the woodshed on this one. Citing ICPR's opposition, the Northwest Herald denounced the new law as an erosion of the FOIA in its Aug. 31 editorial, "Access takes another hit." And the Illinois Statehouse News' coverage of the bill signing was appropriately headlined "FOIA tweak could make getting info tougher," The Chicago Sun-Times tried to get a response from the governor's office in response to ICPR's criticsms of the bill, but was unsuccessful.
*Join us for our Fall Fundraiser!
Join ICPR for a festive evening on Thursday, November 10th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Zolla Lieberman Gallery, 325 West Huron, Chicago Illinois
This year we will present the Paul Simon Public Service Award to DLA Piper for their generous pro-bono support of ICPR’s efforts to defend campaign disclosure in Illinois. We will also be presenting the inaugural Cynthia Canary Leadership Award to Terry Pastika of the Citizen Advocacy Center, for her leadership on Freedom of Information issues.
For information about joining the host committee and sponsorship opportunities, contact Kate Hermann at kate@ilcampaign.org or 312-335-1767
Individual tickets are $75, with a $50 “Young Professional” rate for guests under 30.
Purchase your tickets online today by clicking here.
*Calling out Conflict of Interest
We've been working for years to improve disclosure of public official's conflicts of interest. Current disclosure forms, as we noted in 2008, are a waste of paper. We worked with Cook County Clerk David Orr on his new website, and we've been honored to collaborate with Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon to improve the state system. When Legislative Inspector General Tom Homer announced his frustration with the current forms, we sprang into action. In the last week, the State Journal Register and the Chicago Tribune have both editorialized in support of our efforts, and we plan to have legislation soon to ensure that the public has the kind of information needed to determine if public officials are feathering their own nest or working to benefit their constituents.
