Last month, we sent a letter to the Senate President and Speaker of the House requesting that they update their chambers and join the 44 other states that have free archives online […]
Policy Statements
Posted inPolicy Statements
BGA Vice President of Policy testifies in favor of anti-SLAPP legislation
Chairwoman Gong Gershowitz, Spokesperson Ugaste, My name is Bryan Zarou, and I am the Vice President of Policy at the Better Government Association. The Better Government Association strongly supports HB1077. […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Mayor and Allies Obstruct Inspector General Reforms –“Outright Hostility to Ethics and Oversight”
Close mayoral ally Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez on Wednesday delayed a reform measure championed by ethics committee chair Ald. Matt Martin and Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, using a parliamentary process to divert the ordinance to the rules committee.
Posted inPolicy Statements
Better Government Association Statement: Madigan Trial Verdict
Former longtime Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan today was found guilty by a jury on 10 out of 23 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and other charges in relation to a jobs-for-votes scheme and additional abuses of public office.
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BGA, Civic Federation, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability Statement on Budget Transparency Ordinance
Chicago’s city council is set to vote on a package of ordinances setting the municipal budget for 2025. A late start, the mayor’s failure to provide detailed information requested by […]
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Watchdog Groups Urge Responsible Stewardship from Temporary Board of Education Appointees
The abrupt resignation of the entire Chicago Board of Education a month before the body begins its transition to locally elected governance has given Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson an opportunity […]
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Small Steps on Ethics Reform from a Reluctant Mayor
Today’s City Council meeting saw the passage of two sets of ethics reforms: an ordinance giving the Board of Ethics enforcement authority for a longstanding executive order banning lobbyist contributions […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Light Burke Sentence Makes Clear the Need for Reform
Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke today was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million for his conviction on 13 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. The […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Deferred Ethics Bill Continues Alarming Pattern
An ordinance proposed by the Chicago Board of Ethics and introduced by City Council ethics committee chair Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) got the slowroll treatment today, with Alds. Chris […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
BGA Calls for Action on Stalled Ethics Ordinance
A package of changes to Chicago’s government ethics ordinance has stalled in City Council, despite the backing of the city’s Board of Ethics and the chair of the council’s ethics […]