Midwest Open Government Project launches, resonates

CHICAGO—The Citizen Advocacy Center, a policy research partner of the Midwest Democracy Network, today released a report analyzing the open government laws for public records and public meetings in our five-state region.

The study identifies strengths and weaknesses of these statutes, which determine the level of transparency in conducting the people’s business. The Center also published on its website model statutes on both sets of laws for each state.

“The ideals of a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people require that the public have, to the fullest extent possible, the capacity to access the governmental decision-making process and documents that are created and maintained with public tax dollars,” the study states. “Broad access to government ensures the public’s capacity to play a role in the democratic process and provides a mechanism by which the public can knowledgably discuss issues of public concern, make informed judgments as to the actions of public officials, and monitor government to ensure that it is acting in the public interest.”

The report was launched in conjunction with Sunshine Week, an annual initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information spearheaded by journalists.

Findings of the study are already resonating.

An editorial in today’s Detroit Free Press asks the Michigan legislature to “Knock down more barriers to information” and suggests “The law needs fewer exceptions, cost controls and other changes. Just as important is assuring the law is not subverted by politicians and bureaucrats who either have secrets to keep or who see public records as their private property.”

In Illinois, concerns about the FOIA laws are on the front burner: Attorney General Lisa Madigan is advocating for comprehensive reform of the FOIA; the Governor Pat Quinn’s Reform Commission is examining how to strengthen FOIA provisions; the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Government Reform has heard testimony on FOIA; and just yesterday, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a case involving whether or not school superintendent contracts should be publicly disclosed under the FOIA. The Chicago Tribune says that ”The push is on for public records access in Illinois,” ”Illinois open records law often a closed door,” and makes a statement on the state’s law. 

Earlier this month, Ohio Citizen Action’s Money in Politics Project issued a letter to the state’s director of the Department of Transportation asking for a response to a three-month-old records request for documents related to a proposed coal plant. Meanwhile, in the Columbus Dispatch, a concerned and frustrated citizen says in a letter to the editor about officials proposing closed meetings, “Now they want to draw the curtains and close the door? Phooey. I’m tired of it.” And, a Dispatch editorial pleads, “Save documents: Ohio’s state and local governments need help preserving crucial records.”  

Go to the Midwest Open Government Project - 2009 Special Project page for the full report.