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Really. The Most Transparent Governor Ever?
81% Failure Rate-
State Executives Ignore Open Meeting Law Leaders of state agencies, Gov. Quinn’s appointed executives failed to comply with mandatory Open Meeting Act training or blatantly ignored
our request to review their certifications. 100% Failure Rate at 17 top Agencies
Freedom of Information Officer Certification
Read our study:
 The Political “Safe Breakers” Foiled Attorney General Lisa Madigan has 820 employees and but not one is assigned to hold state government accountable to the Open Meetings and Open Records (FOIA) law?
Of 41 agencies listed on Attorney General Madigan’s website, only 8 of Quinn’s appointed agency executives were in compliance with Open Meetingcertification.
Six more of Quinn’s agencies blatantly ignored the Freedom of Information Act request.
Here’s an example of agency non-compliance:
Dept. of Human Services Secretary Michelle Saddler never “had the time” to certify Open Meetings training. However, Sadler and Chief Information Officer Doug Kasamis starred in an IBM sales video. Giving access to film on state property, the state executives help shill for IBM on state time.
Why the Open Meetings Act is Important: Illinois has a historic “Tammany Hall,” New York City style problem of the “smoke filled back room.” The Open Meetings Act opens up that “sausage making machine”:
1. Agendas are posted inviting citizens and giving notice regarding purpose and topics.
2. The public is invited to give comment and share thoughts. 3. After the meeting, minutes and notes are public record. Who was present? What was discussed? What were the decisions?
If state government is not in compliance with Open Meetings, why should any of the other 7,000 governments in Illinois comply?
Why have laws if they are not enforced but instead willfully disregarded?
It’s time the Illinois press weighed in on these basic issues of open records and open meetings.
ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI
Founder & Chairman, For The Good of Illinois
PS. Please help our research teams and activists with a generous investment in our work. Please give a gift of $25, $50, $100, $250 or $500 today. SUMMER INTERNS
If you are interested in a summer internship or regularvolunteer opportunity, please respond to this email ASAP. Special Thank you to Kirk Allen and John Kraft for research, filing and tabulating agency responses. Read our 2013 Summary- “The Good in Illinois“
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