And it was all the way back in 2006! Liberty Leader Chris Jenner–a board member of Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 who recently led the charge for competitive bidding and online posting of public documents–recently sent me this cartoon from all the way back in ’06 when the district passed its pay-to-play reform. The [...]
Tag Archives: blagojevich
Chances of Sunlight in Illinois
The possibility of transparency in Illinois state government has begun to tip in favor of transparency supporters in recent weeks. Chances of us actually seeing transparency become a reality in this state are looking better and better. The tireless efforts of Rep. Mike Tryon, who sponsored transparency legislation last spring (Illinois Accountability Portal, HB4765) with [...]
Root out corruption in Illinois with transparency
No sirens blared outside Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s home early Dec. 9, as federal agents took him into custody for charges of corruption and pay-to-play politics in the highest offices of Illinois government. He may have gone quietly, but this arrest has sounded a jolting alarm for Illinois. Illinois citizens and elected officials must get this [...]
Endless bailouts need transparency
Paul Jacob tackles transparency in the endless federal bailouts in his column today, citing the estimated $7.7 trillion in taxpayer money that is being devoted to propping up failing banks, financial institutions and, possibly, automobile manufacturers. Even our recently-arrested governor Rod Blagojevich has expressed interest in acquiring some of this federal bailout cash (and a fictionalized [...]
Institute CEO John Tillman to talk about Blagojevich arrest on WLS-AM tonight
Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman will appear on WLS-AM radio this evening between 9-10 PM to discuss the day’s top story: the arrest of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. John will talk about how this arrest highlights the need for greater transparency in Illinois government, and unveil an agenda for political reform.
Blago's Arrest — Need More Convincing for Transparency?
In case there weren’t enough alarms ringing already, the arrest of Governor Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris sounds another (HUGE) alarm for Illinois to implement transparency. Will this be the tipping point? Will our elected officials take a stand? Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, just said [...]
Raising questions along with pay
With 37,000 members throughout Illinois, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest labor union in the state. AHN writer Jupiter Kalambakal reported that AFSCME ratified a contract Friday with the state of Illinois that includes a 15.25% pay raise implemented over the course of four years. This pay raise for 37,000 government employees [...]