Madigan Presses for Increased Access to Public Records
By Kalyn Belsha in News on Mar 8, 2009 7:15PM
It looks like at least one good thing will come of the whole Blago mess: Advocates are pushing to re-write the state law that governs access to public records. They've generated a wave of support hinged on a former governor who repeatedly denied requests for documents.
Gov. Pat Quinn has also ordered the Illinois state government to release records that were denied under Blagojevich and former governor George Ryan.
Two bills are in committee in Springfield that would make it easier for the public to demand government documents. Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and her staff having been working on the new legislation since November, in conjunction with support from media lawyers, watchdog groups and newspaper reps -- including the Tribune.
Madigan told the Tribune Friday the bills move toward ending "the culture of secrecy in this state."
"The opportunity is ripe to do it," she said, "And hopefully we can persuade some of those who have traditionally been opposed that this needs to happen."
Besides increasing access to documents, the bills would also impose fines, attorney's fees and possible criminal sanctions on those who violate the law by refusing requests. Madigan's office would gain new rights to force public officials to turn over records as well.
Opponents of the bills are questioning how they will affect Illinois citizens' privacy as well as the cost to taxpayers. Law enforcement and local government lobbyists say they fear the legislation would increase their workload without funding to cover it, and possibly confuse officials about what documents are considered "public."
Some say while the legislation is a step in the right direction, it is a far cry from the total overhaul advocates had hoped for.
"This is not the dream bill," Illinois Press Association spokeswoman Beth Bennett told the Tribune. "The political reality is we still live in Illinois, and even as it is, we are going to have a huge fight."