Patch on Politics

3 Things to Annoy You Right Before Christmas

The bad news: Job growth in Illinois is too slow, and prison inmates probably watch better TV than you. The good news: Your lawmaker is one of the highest paid in the nation.

Feeling all warm and full of good cheer? Bah! Here's a little something to satisfy the Scrooge in you before the spirit of Christmas takes hold. We Need More Jobs: At 8.7 percent, the Illinois unemployment rate is 1 percent above the national rate. And job creation is improving at a faster clip all around us, in Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa and Missouri, on average, according to Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner at the Illinois Policy Institute.  "The reality is Illinois’ poor policies aren't allowing the state to participate fully in the national recovery. If only Illinois’ unemployment rate were equal to the average of its neighbors, 100,000 more Illinoisans would be working. Yes, jobs are slowly returning to the state, but that’s …

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Dennis Robaugh

12:27 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

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Suit Against Pace Alleges Violations of Open Records Law

The Better Government Association accuses the suburban bus agency of stonewalling on safety-related documents.

The suburban bus company Pace is being sued for withholding information about bus accidents, and alcohol and drug testing of bus drivers. The suit, filed March 21 by the Better Government Association (BGA), alleges Pace violated the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in refusing to turn over documents related to bus accidents, and alcohol and drug testing of bus drivers that the BGA has requested. The BGA is a nonprofit, non-partisan watchdog group. “Pace is a taxpayer-supported agency,” said BGA President and CEO Andy Shaw. “It shows a remarkable degree of arrogance to refuse to release documents that are so clearly in the public realm—and that other agencies have, at times, turned over without even a formal FOIA request." “The …

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Government Watchdog Training Offered

BGA session focuses on citizen access to local governments.

Curious about how to keep an eye on your local government?  The Citizen Watchdog Training Program is offering training on Aug. 3 to locals who want to keep an eye on their elected officials. Provided by the Better Government Association, the free program will show interested people how to use the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act. It will take place at Concordia University'sChicago Koehneke Community Center, in the Oak Park Room at 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest. The event is open to the public, but space is limited. RSVP to Barb Macholz at bmacholz@bettergov.org or 312-821-9025.

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