Gov. Pat Quinn is cutting dozens of unnecessary or redundant boards and commissions, following BGA investigations into Illinois’ proliferation of costly and underutilized state panels.
Legal
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
LANDMARK WRONGFUL CONVICTION LAW PASSED
Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a landmark reform bill backed by the Better Government Association’s policy team, lawmakers and criminal justice advocates.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
HOUSE TO PROBE CONGRESSMAN
The House Ethics Committee is expanding a probe of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s finances, an inquiry that follows a BGA/Chicago Sun-Times investigation.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
FELON LEAVES COUNTY JOB
The BGA and FOX 32 reveal that newly elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough hires a family friend with a felony conviction for a top government job.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
POL ISSUES REFUND FOR IMPROPER TAX BREAKS
In wake of BGA legal action that forced mayor to release personal emails, Chicago Board of Ethics levies fine against David Plouffe, who lobbied mayor on behalf of Uber.
Posted inLegal
Judge Orders Review In Rauner Email Case Brought By BGA
Ruling sets in motion process to determine whether Illinois governor and top aides were using personal email to conduct government business.
Posted inLegal
BGA Forces Release Of Mayor Rahm Emanuel Private Emails, Garners Landmark Policy Shift
As a result of a BGA investigation and legal action, The City of Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have agreed to release all of Emanuel’s private emails related to city business. View the documents in this story.
Posted inLegal
BGA Sues Over Emails in Removal Of IHDA Chief
The Better Government Association filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Housing Development Authority seeking the release of unredacted emails related to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s ouster of the state agency’s former executive director, Joseph Galvan.
Posted inLegal
BGA Lawsuit Prompts Order To Release CPD Shooting Videos
Judge orders CPD to release all files around fatal shootings over the last five years a a result of a BGA lawsuit.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
Legislation Passed
A bill that would limit how much public officials can spend on taxpayer-subsidized travel is passed by legislators and heads to Gov. Rauner’s desk. The legislation was inspired by news stories from the BGA and other media groups on questionable spending by school districts.