My Tea Party Comments Still Ring True

As we approach Independence Day, the words I spoke in the below video at the April Tea Party in Lisle still ring truer than ever:

Joe Birkett at the Lisle Tea Party from Joe Birkett on Vimeo.

Joe on Government Transparency

Earlier this week the Chicago Tribune featured an article that rightly criticizes Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws and compliance.

We do need to greatly improve government transparency and cease being a “government in secret.”

That’s why former Attorney General Jim Ryan pushed for the most important FOIA reforms — allowing prosecutors to enforce the law — back in 2000, only to have it blocked by the pols in Springfield.  I have also long been a proponent of public enforcement.

Lisa Madigan, despite having her party control the GA and her father as speaker, has not pushed for this reform.  Today’s Tribune article portrays her as a proponent of FOIA reform – instead of hold her accountable for not pushing for the most effective and obvious reform.

Please watch this brief video in which I discuss the Illinois Dems’ hypocrisy on government transparency:

Joe Birkett on Transparency in Illinois Government from Joe Birkett on Vimeo.