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Illinois Celebrating Sunshine Week
(IRN)-It's "Sunshine Week," in Illinois, but one public watchdog group says lawmakers in Springfield are trying to stifle the public's right to know.

Adam Andrzejewski, former gubernatorial candidate and CEO and Founder of For the Good of Illinois, notes many victories in his nonprofit organization's work to change the mindset in local and state government toward being more open and transparent but he says the fight continues.

"This week in Springfield during "Sunshine Week" it's particularly egregious where the state legislature is trying to actually shut down a citizen's right to know, the right to gleam public information through the Freedom of Information Act," Andrzejewski said. "If you file more than 15 requests you would be labeled, it would be name calling, they would call you vexatious and they would have the option not to fulfill your request."

The bill, sponsored by State Senator Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) would require the Public Access Counselor to keep a list of people who file multiple FOIAs that could be perceived as intentional harassment. Media would be excluded.

"Sunshine Week" was created by the American society of news editors to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
03 15 11 by Newsroom
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