MCC mum on Packard’s exit
May 4, 2009: "McHenry County College officials are citing employee confidentiality when pressed for more information about former President Walt Packard’s departure or why he remains on the payroll.
Packard resigned as MCC president Feb. 27, just days after the college Board of Trustees met in closed session to discuss his contract and compensation. At the time, Packard had two years left on a three-year contract with the college." Read the full article here.
Government in secret: Open records advocate sees limits to transparency
May 3, 2009: "Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan created the Public Access Bureau in 2004 -- a first-ever effort in Illinois to help the public get a clearer picture of how state and local governments make decisions.
The office has trained and advised public officials on open meetings and open records issues. It also has helped mediate records disputes between citizens and government agencies, an effort she says has been stymied by a lack of teeth.
Yet while Madigan portrays herself as a champion of open government, even she struggles to define how much transparency is enough." Read the full article here.
Our Opinion: Quinn should lean on ISP to release records
April 29, 2009: "It’s time for acting Illinois State Police Director Jon Monken to dispense once and for all with the ISP’s practice of filibustering, obfuscating and generally throwing up every obstacle it can think of or invent to avoid releasing public records.
In the case of a public records request for Springfield Park District director Mike Stratton’s arrest report, we fear Monken is being led astray by the old bulls at the agency who want to defend the status quo at any cost. It’s time for Gov. Pat Quinn, a longtime proponent of open government, to step in and remind the ISP who is in charge." Read the full editorial here.
Illinois ethics reform: Panel releases report of recommendation
April 29, 2009: "Delivering its final suggestions on how to clean up state government, a reform group took aim Tuesday at curbing the power of the small band of legislative leaders who rule Springfield -- the very folks who must sign off on any ethics overhaul.
With just five weeks to go before the General Assembly adjourns for the summer, Gov. Pat Quinn's Illinois Reform Commission threw down the proverbial gauntlet in challenging lawmakers to change the way they've done business inside the Capitol for decades." Read the full article here.
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