Politicians use a loophole to bypass the Illinois Constitution’s requirement that bills be read on three separate days before they are passed. Instead, they often gut minor bills and put significant legislation in the bills within a day of the vote.
How to keep government transparent through Illinois Open Meetings Act
Most Illinois government meetings are open to the public, with a few exceptions. Here’s what to know about Illinoisans’ rights to see what government is doing by using the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
‘Transparency’ on Illinois legislative maps begins behind closed doors
Democratic state lawmakers were given a private look at new Illinois House district maps. Partisan legislative maps and gerrymandering seem to be surviving ‘transparency.’
Illinois lawmakers tackle balloons, pitchfork fishing, but keep residents in dark on ethics reforms
The Illinois General Assembly busies itself with limiting balloon releases and regulating pitchfork fishing along highways when ethics reform is the need in a state with a rich history of corruption.
Bill fights Illinois corruption with online access to government spending, records
Putting the public’s business on public display can help Illinois reform its culture of corruption and control government waste. An Illinois House bill will put more local government records online.
Greater independence for Illinois’ Legislative Inspector General draws bipartisan support
Illinois’ Legislative Inspector General currently is subjected to political influence or even silencing by members of the General Assembly.
Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track
A bill to make more public records readily available would better show taxpayers how local governments spend money.
Illinois watchdog’s report of ‘serious misconduct’ was ‘squashed’ by panel of lawmakers
Illinois’ legislative inspector general investigates complaints against state lawmakers, but a commission of their peers can – and did – bury those findings, the former inspector said. A new bill would change that.
Feds indict champion of Illinois gas tax hike, ‘fair tax’ on tax fraud and bribery
The former chair of the influential Senate Transportation Committee is the fourth Illinois politician indicted on federal charges amid a sweeping FBI probe.
FBI investigating suburban Illinois township road commissioner
An ongoing corruption probe targeting Illinois officeholders has shown there’s no unit of government too small to invite the attention of federal investigators.