Open Illinois.org

Illinois needs transparency.  From the governor all the way down to local trustees, it is vital that the public is given information on the workings of their government.

On the state level improvements have been made, but there is a long way to go.

For example, when bills are sent to committees within the General Assembly, it is difficult to determine which legislators voted for and against the proposed measure.  Citizens can view whether or not the bill passed, of course, but this is not the whole story.

Committees play a pivotal role in shaping the development of legislation.  Therefore, it is essential to have easily accessible (online) records on committee activity.  How are voters supposed to evaluate their elected representatives when the actions of a particular member are blurred into the actions of a committee?

Currently, one must track down a legislative clerk for the committee and request a mailed roll call transcript of a committee hearing to find this information.  It should not be this difficult.

Citizens need information to make informed decisions, to support strong candidates, and to keep a check on government corruption and waste.    It is the state’s duty to make sure this information is accessible and accurate, perhaps committee vote records is the place to start.

Check out Illinoispolicyinstitute.org for more information.