The Chicago City Council passed a “snap” curfew ordinance on June 18 that allows the superintendent to impose short-notice curfews. Two days later, Mayor Brandon Johnson issued the first veto […]
Policy
Posted inPolicy Statements
City Council Ethics Chair Forces Procedural Vote on Stalled Protections for Inspector General Investigations
Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward), chair of the City Council ethics committee, filed a procedural motion last week to reclaim a stalled ordinance from the rules committee. If successful, Martin’s […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Better Government Association Statement: Madigan Sentencing Brings Justice; Highlights Need for Ethics Reform
A federal judge today sentenced former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan to 7-½ years in prison and three years’ probation, as well as a fine of $2.5 million. […]
Posted inPerspectives
The Public Should Have Open Access to Judicial Records. A Recent Investigation Shows Why.
BGA Policy has long documented the perils that come with the judiciary being exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. This lack of public oversight puts those in the courts’ […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
New Revenues for Chicago, Mentioned in Budget Hearings, Not On Mayor’s Springfield Agenda
A series of new lobbying priorities announced by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at a press conference last week included tweaks to revenues the city currently receives from the state government, […]
Posted inResearch & Analysis
State Courts Lag on Electronic Monitoring Data Required by SAFE-T Act
As BGA Policy has consistently highlighted, Illinois’ judicial branch is not subject to FOIA, leaving entities like juvenile detention centers, policies and procedures of judicial agencies, training manuals and budget […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
Legal Evaluation Finds “No Legal Prohibitions” on Proposed Ordinance to Strengthen Chicago’s Inspector General
In a legal opinion solicited by the Better Government Association, Chicago law firm Loevy + Loevy found no legal prohibitions to an ordinance proposed by City Council ethics chair Ald. […]
Posted inPolicy Statements
BGA Policy Calls on House and Senate Leaders to Create Transparent Online Archives for Proceedings
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 […]
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.