Transparency in Jeopardy

by Kate Piercy Back in July, Gov. Quinn made an amendatory veto to HB5154, which called for the exemption of all public employee performance evaluations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Illinois Policy Institute argued against this bill, saying it would threaten transparency in government by prohibiting the release of public employee performance reviews...

by Kate Piercy

Back in July, Gov. Quinn made an amendatory veto to HB5154, which called for the exemption of all public employee performance evaluations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Illinois Policy Institute argued against this bill, saying it would threaten transparency in government by prohibiting the release of public employee performance reviews under FOIA. The idea started with some lawmakers wanting to exempt teachers’ performance evaluations, and then it expanded to all public employees.

Quinn made a good move. Its passage would have been a major step backward in the movement for more transparency and accountability in government.

Today, however, the Illinois House overrode Quinn’s amendatory veto on HB5154. If the Senate agrees, performance reviews will be sealed forever. Goodbye transparency.

We’re waiting to hear what happens. Stay tuned for updates here, and listen to Kristina Rasmussen’s Capitol Update from earlier today.