Open Illinois.org

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 state on the path to true reform. Everyone has a part to play.

The arrest of Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris may not strike many people as a surprise. Yet upon hearing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald reveal the laundry list of the Governor’s criminal acts and injustices against Illinoisans, many must feel compelled to 1) take their state back from politicians who run on a platform of reform and then blatantly act in opposition to their promises; 2) enforce accountability in elected officials who currently operate behind a veil of anonymity; 3) end reckless spending and restore common-sense, good government principles; 4) and rebuild a shaken and soured public trust of elected officials serving in the offices of Illinois government.

Who will take a stand? 

The governor – and a likely long list of others that will follow as more information comes to light in this criminal case – has not fought for Illinois. Now is the time for citizens to fight for reform, and for elected officials to implement it. As a citizen, you can start in your own neighborhood, schools, township, city or village. If enough people take action at the local level, pressure will mount on state representatives. 

Where do we start? With transparency. 

As John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, recently remarked, “The Governor’s arrest is likely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to corruption in Illinois. If there was ever a case for full government transparency, this is it. Illinois—and particularly “Crook County,” as it has become known—has become a national symbol of waste, fraud, abuse and corruption. It’s time to open the books in Illinois so that we can truly root out government corruption.”

After this monumental arrest, how can elected officials possibly say “no” to implementing transparency? Those at the state level should consider taking a serious ear to the alarm bells and step onto the path of reform by implementing transparency in government. The state already has transparency legislation, called the Illinois Accountability Portal (HB4765), introduced by Rep. Michael Tryon and unanimously passed in the House in April 2008. Unfortunately, the Senate Rules Committee keeps hitting the snooze button and the bill sits waiting for approval. 

The Illinois Policy Institute has consistently encouraged a movement towards greater transparency and accountability in Illinois, including reforms like the Accountability Portal, which would establish a comprehensive online transparency program for the state, along with all units of government receiving state funds. This transparency program would open up the books in one easy-access, searchable website—including every check written, every contractor paid, and every consultant hired. It would include all expenditures, with access to the details supporting such payments, their purpose, and who authorized the payment. A single, unified website would serve as a valuable resource for not only citizens, but for policy-makers as well. Second, the Institute supports forming an independent audit and sunshine commission, which would review all aspects of state spending with a focus on rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. 

Third, the Institute has had success at the local level in our state by partnering with volunteer activists to enact greater transparency in every level of local government, such as school districts, city councils, county boards, park districts, and public libraries. The Illinois Policy Institute lists all transparent local government entities in Illinois at www.openillinois.org. Some local government units in Illinois have laudably implemented transparency, such as Illinois Valley Community College and the City of Ottawa. Perhaps LaSalle County will be next and serve as a model of good government for other counties in Illinois to follow. 

“The Blagojevich arrest really brings it home: Illinois is a poster child for bad government. We need real reform now,” Tillman said. “Transparency is a widely popular, bipartisan reform that will inject much-needed sunshine into Illinois state government. Successful states around the nation are moving towards greater transparency. Illinois should do the same. It would serve as a win-win for both legislators and citizens—and stop the corruption cold.” 

The alarms calling for transparency have been ringing for some time, and now, a mega-alarm blares and pleads for Illinois’s elected officials to take a stand. Illinois citizens deserve better. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the Governor has taken us to a truly new low. Now Illinois must rise up and clean up, and the first step to putting us on that path begins with transparency. 

This article appeared originally in the December 15, 2008 edition of the Ottawa Times.