FOIA rewrite in jeopardy

May 20th, 2009 at 05:01pm Wally Haas

Literally at the midnight hour, the Freedom of Information Act changes that Attorney General Lisa Madigan advocated and we as an Editorial Board supported, were drastically changed.

The bill, which has not been submitted yet, would make Illinois’ FOIA laws, considered the worst in the country, even worse.

Don Craven, general counsel for the Illinois Press Association, said during a conference call today that “only in Illinois would this bill be described as reform and transparency.”

Craven said he’d rather have the current law than the proposed one. Beth Bennett, IPA director of government relations, agreed. She said at least with the current law the IPA would have court precedent as a guide.

Cara Smith, Lisa Madigan’s deputy chief of staff, told me that the AG’s office would continue to fight for provisions in the original bill. The IPA, Madigan’s office and other advocacy groups have been working on the bill for months.

There’s a meeting later tonight with the IPA, AG’s office, General Assembly leadership and others. IPA folks are not encouraged. “There’s nothing to negotiate in this bill.”

No one seems to know who’s responsible for the changes. IPA folks said the changes came from “leadership” in the General Assembly, but couldn’t blame anyone specifically.

I suggested that since Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, Lisa’s father, controls what gets voted on and what doesn’t that perhaps we had a family feud on our hands. Craven said he honestly didn’t know.

The IPA will release a statement tomorrow. Stay tuned.

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