Category Archives: FOIA

Vexatious Outcome: New Illinois Law Hurts Freedom of Information Act

After months of fighting to protect the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which protects citizens’ access to information about their government, the Better Government Association is disappointed with Gov. Pat Quinn’s decision to sign a bill into law that limits … Continue reading

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Filed under FOIA, Legislative Update, Transparency

Action Alert: Gov’t transparency under attack!

This spring, lawmakers in Springfield approved HB1716 — a bill that makes it harder for citizens to freely access public information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA.) Now the measure is heading to Governor Quinn’s desk, where he … Continue reading

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Filed under Action Alert, FOIA, Legislative Update

Got Transparency? Not for Long—Help BGA Protect FOIA

BGA policy and government affairs coordinator, Emily Miller, has been monitoring developments on the most pressing state issues, and advocating for open, accountable and efficient government during the legislative session that recently concluded in Springfield. Miller evaluates where one of … Continue reading

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Filed under FOIA

Open and Transparent Gov’t is Under Attack — Tell Your Lawmakers to Vote NO on HB1716

HB1716, SA1—the FOIA rollback bill—creates a new category of FOIA requester: the “recurrent requester,” referred to as a “vexatious requester” in earlier versions of the legislation. If this legislation passes, a citizen who makes more than 50 FOIA requests in … Continue reading

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Filed under FOIA, Uncategorized

BGA Policy Guru Emily Miller Talks FOIA Protection and Township Reform on Outside the Loop

The Better Government Association’s policy guru, Emily Miller, talked with Outside the Loop’s Mike Stephen about BGA’s top legislative priorities for the current session—protecting the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and reforming township government. >> TO LISTEN CLICK HERE

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Filed under Commentary, FOIA, Townships

FOIA’s Cloudy Future has us Vexed

“Sunshine Week,” a national campaign dedicated to protecting the public’s right to get information about their government, is now being celebrated. But in Illinois, the outlook for such access is more cloudy than bright. Last year, a new Illinois Freedom … Continue reading

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Filed under FOIA, Transparency