Illinois school districts are so administratively top heavy that they’re depriving schools of valuable instruction dollars.
Policy
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Andy Shaw: Time For Leaders To Walk The Walk On Chicago Reform Talk
Reforming gun sentencing, bail and police union contracts are just some of the encouraging efforts around Chicago.
Posted inAction, Analysis, Policy
BGA Talks TIFs At County Clerk’s Forum
Many opportunities for increased transparency, oversight of controversial funding mechanism.
Posted inAction, Analysis, Policy
Legislative Scholarships … Again? BGA Opposes HB 279
Instead of reviving — and extending — a problematic program, the focus should be on creating and passing a balanced budget in order to fully fund MAP grants.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Shaw: Tougher Gun Laws Just One Piece Of The Chicago Violence Puzzle
Critics of longer prison sentences for gun crimes compare the idea to the “War on Drugs,” which imprisoned thousands of minorities without reducing drug trafficking or usage.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Internal Watchdogs Are Essential But Many Politicians Still Resist Oversight
Hey pols: Are you finally ready to equip your internal watchdogs with a loud bark and sharp teeth? The silence is deafening.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
More Transparency From Emanuel, But Watchdog Work Far From Over
We can’t let public officials hide conversations that affect our lives and tax dollars in personal email accounts that are often inaccessible.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
U Of I Researchers Offer Sobering Reality And Fixes For Illinois
The state’s prognosis is pretty grim, but there are bitter pills our leaders could prescribe if we want a chance at recovery.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
CPS IG Criticizes Roadblocks To Oversight; Other IGs Encounter Too
CPS IG makes argument for greater independence, reflecting longstanding BGA concerns over giving Chicago watchdogs adequately empowered oversight.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Reforming Illinois Government, Law By Law
Something to celebrate. In 2016, the legislature passed, and the governor signed, twenty-two good government bills that BGA supported. They make incremental reforms in the areas of streamlining, accountability, ethics and transparency.