Get out of jail free card
Get out of jail free card
Sometimes it
Gov. Quinn named “Porker of the Month”
Gov. Quinn named “Porker of the Month”
Last week, Citizens Against Government Waste, or CAGW, named Gov. Pat Quinn their September “Porker of the Month.” This monthly “award” is given to politicians and public officials who have “shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.” As we’ve previously reported, Gov. Quinn’s fiscal year 2012 budget floated the idea of having the federal government guarantee the...
Meet the Kane County Transparency Team
Meet the Kane County Transparency Team
Recently, the Institute released the results of transparency audits of 26 northern Illinois counties as part of the Local Transparency Project. Kane County earned the highest grade and became the first county in Illinois to score a 100%, on the Institute’s 10-Point Transparency Checklist. Here is a picture of Kane County’s Transparency Team who was responsible for...
Institute in Saulk Valley News: Official resists government transparency
Institute in Saulk Valley News: Official resists government transparency
A letter to the editor from Illinois Policy Institute's Director of Government Reform, Brian Costin, on issue of local government transparency in Lee County.
Don’t be a victim of public corruption, learn from District 147’s transparency mistakes
Don’t be a victim of public corruption, learn from District 147’s transparency mistakes
This time the alleged corruption comes from West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147. Retired superintendent, Alex Boyd, is accused of,“fraudulently cashing out about $350,000 worth of sick and vacation time and racking up $57,000 in unauthorized credit card charges.” Also, board member Mable Chapman is accused of, “helping Boyd bilk the district while having family members hired by...
Welfare abuse: As American as baseball, hotdogs and whoopie pies
Welfare abuse: As American as baseball, hotdogs and whoopie pies
The national food stamp program was originally designed to provide nutritional foods for folks who can
Illinois House votes 100-6-3 to expel Rep. Derrick Smith (D)
Illinois House votes 100-6-3 to expel Rep. Derrick Smith (D)
By a vote 100-6 State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) has been expelled from the Illinois House of Representatives.
Willowbrook mails public employee compensation info to residents
Willowbrook mails public employee compensation info to residents
Ever since the Village of Willowbrook’s participation in the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project, the Mayor and Board of Trustees have been interested in ways of furthering the Village’s transparency efforts.” – Garrett Hummel, Management Analyst, Village of Willowbrook. The Village of Willowbrook previously earned a transparency award from the Illinois Policy Institute for scoring an...
Institute in Daily Herald: A road map to transparency
Institute in Daily Herald: A road map to transparency
Only when our government leaders emphasize the importance of transparency in all they do will taxpayers truly benefit.
Seven DuPage County-area governments receive high marks in online transparency audit
Seven DuPage County-area governments receive high marks in online transparency audit
CHICAGO (Aug. 1, 2012) – In the latest round of online transparency audits conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute, only 13 of 22 local government agencies in the York Township-area in DuPage County received passing grades. In an effort to fight corruption and encourage public participation in government, the Illinois Policy Institute grades governments on...
Why is Lyons removing public documents from website?
Why is Lyons removing public documents from website?
“In 1990, Lyons police officers Donald Kroft and William Tweeter pleaded guilty to having sex with prostitutes in return for overlooking crimes at a suburban strip joint.” “Lyons Village President Kenneth Getty was convicted in 1998 of theft and money laundering for his role in a bid-rigging scheme involving two public works projects. 53 Prosecutors...
Kane County earns 100% in government transparency audit
Kane County earns 100% in government transparency audit
CHICAGO (June 26, 2012) – With the click of a mouse, residents in Kane County can find out when is the next county board meeting or what tax rates they pay. But in many counties across northern Illinois, this type of information is not readily available to the public. In the Illinois Policy Institute’s latest...
Spenders and Savers: A Look at Illinois’ Congressional Delegation
Spenders and Savers: A Look at Illinois’ Congressional Delegation
A National Taxpayers Union Foundation report looks at what Illinois' Members of Congress want to do with your tax dollars.
Orland Township, Tinley Park, Orland School District 135 and Orland Fire receive high marks in transparency audit
Orland Township, Tinley Park, Orland School District 135 and Orland Fire receive high marks in transparency audit
CHICAGO (May 18, 2012) – The village of Tinley Park, Orland Township, Orland School District 135 and the Orland Fire Protection District all received high marks in an online transparency audit conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute. These Orland Township-area governments join the Village of Orland Park, who maintained a score of 100 percent from...