Press Release

Working to cut pension benefits for state government employees, House Democrats seek to spare one politically influential person from any pension reductions.

Illinois is a slightly cleaner state today because of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, and all of us owe him a debt of gratitude.

Bill Heads to Governor, Who Favors Killing the Longtime Perk

The Better Government Association wins a prestigious Peter J. Lisagor award for a series of news articles and broadcasts over the past year on credit card abuses by government officials in the Chicago area.

A bill to eliminate the controversial legislative scholarship program is advancing in the Illinois Senate. A measure to end the program is now supported by a key General Assembly leader–Senate President John Cullerton–who changed his position from supporting reforms aimed at policing the program to advocating its elimination.

The Better Government Association is again strongly urging Illinois Senate President John Cullerton to call for a full Senate vote on a bill to end the troubled and clout-riddled legislative scholarship program.

An open letter to aldermen says the Mayor’s blueprint needs greater scrutiny and more public accountability. It urges the City Council to vote no, or to delay and review, the controversial ordinance.

The Better Government Association and the Center on Wrongful Convictions won a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for the June 2011 investigation into the “High Cost of Wrongful Convictions”, a groundbreaking series documenting the human and financial toll of alleged government and police misconduct that led to 85 people being wrongfully incarcerated for violent crimes they

BGA’s policy arm is calling for an end to legislative scholarships because we believe they’re beyond repair or reform.

In response to a Better Government Association special investigation, Chicago Public Schools will propose changes to its policy for sick-day payouts.