In his first official act as the 43rd governor of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker will sign his first executive order today at 1 p.m. to usher in a renewed era of transparency among state agencies. This is a “back to basics” focus on serving the public and a requirement that all agencies ensure they are in compliance with the law.
Making good government a top priority, the first executive order of the Pritzker administration will direct state agencies, boards and commissions to immediately review their compliance with statutory mandates, come into compliance with data transparency laws and release all data that is required to be disclosed under state law, as well as review potential voluntary disclosures that would improve transparency and provide plans to address all audit findings of the past four years.
“Good government starts with making the state accountable to its people and ensuring every Illinoisan has access to the services they need,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our state’s hardworking residents deserve to know how taxpayer money is being spent, and I will ensure that transparency is a core value of my administration. By shining a light on how the state is and isn’t living up to its responsibility to our citizens, we can start making real improvements in the lives of families across Illinois.”
The elements of the executive order include:
A requirement that every agency, board and commission review all statutory obligations and audit findings from the past four years and provide a plan within 60 days to address findings;
A requirement that every agency board and commission review laws and regulations on publishing data and ensure compliance within 30 days;
A requirement that every agency, board and commission review their data publishing practices – including past practices – within 60 days to move toward greater voluntary data disclosure.
“Governor Pritzker is beginning his term by providing bold leadership with a commonsense measure holding state government accountable to its people,” said former Governor Jim Edgar. “This initial action by Governor Pritzker shows Illinoisans that he will prioritize high quality services to residents that are provided effectively, efficiently and transparently.”
“Illinoisans deserve to have a state government that is open and accountable to the people, and focused on delivering needed services effectively and transparently,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “Bringing the state into compliance with transparency requirements on day one in office shows this governor is working to move beyond our past and chart the right course for Illinois.”
“Every resident of our state should know how their state government is meeting or falling short of its obligation to provide quality services for all,” said Senator Melinda Bush. “Governor Pritzker’s action today shows he’s putting the people first and ensuring we are fulfilling the needs of all Illinoisans.”
“Taxpayers ought to know how their money is being used and if the state is actually serving its residents, and Governor Pritzker understands that,” said Senator Andy Manar. “In his first act as governor, he is demonstrating leadership and inviting accountability into the crucial services our state provides, and that will help all Illinoisans restore trust in their government.”
“For too long, the state has withheld critical data on how human services are functioning, but Governor Pritzker’s executive order writes a new chapter of good government for the state of Illinois,” said Thomas Yates, Executive Director of Legal Council for Health Justice. “We think everyone — providers, recipients, and the public — should be able to see accurate, up-to-date information about how human services and health care are administered by the state. With this executive order, state agencies will be on track to provide data to better inform policy for programs that improve the lives of millions of people in Illinois.”
- Baloneymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:55 am:
EO to abolish Intersect Illinois should be forthcoming.
- OneLittleCherry - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:58 am:
EDGE, Enterprise Zones, and TIF’s should be totally examined and independently audited. No in house audits. That’s how they can be covered up.
- Aim to Misbehave - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 11:59 am:
An EO revoking Rauner’s executive order giving Autonomous Vehicles unregulated use of Illinois roads would be nice. It would also establish that this kind of regulation should be handled by the General Assembly.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:01 pm:
Baloney. Amen to that.
OneLittle. Amen to that.
My recommendation. Make that two. Eliminate the useless FOID and tax Oreos.
- Justacitizen - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:02 pm:
Why not just enforce the Fiscal Control and Internal Auditing Act? 30 ILCS 10
Sec. 3003. Certification by chief executive officers.
(a) By May 1 of each year, each chief executive officer of all State agencies shall, on the basis of an evaluation conducted in accordance with guidelines established under Section 3002, prepare and transmit to the Auditor General a certification that:
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:05 pm:
Require politicians with trusts to list all assets held but the trust.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:11 pm:
=EDGE, Enterprise Zones, and TIF’s should be totally examined and independently audited. =
I hate TIF’s but the state would have to add some serious man power to accomplish that kind of audit .
Speaking of manpower- how about an EO eliminating “consultants”. At the ISBE it seems like what staff they still have are almost all consultants.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
JS. How about an EO mandating TIF districts self fund the independent audit. Outside their influence?
- Handle Bar Mustache - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
Minimum wage of $15 for state (sub-)contract workers
- Hmmm - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
Is this just an EO requiring agencies to do what they are supposed to do? Is this more of a press release EO than a substantive change?
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:24 pm:
“regulations on publishing data and ensure compliance within 30 days;” He wants something involving DoIT to be done within 30 days?
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
I like the noise being made about TIFs. I think if more people understood how full of detrimental loopholes many TIFs are, it would be an easy lift to get many more people on board with TIF reform.
While Grant Wherli wasn’t the best public official, him and his buddies in Naperville put forth a tongue-in-cheek proposal to turn most of Naperville into a TIF district, for the purposes of showing the lack of oversight in how TIFs operate in Illinois.
While they didn’t come out and say it directly, it’s not a stretch to say they were comparing their satirical plan for Naperville to what their neighbors to the south in Plainfield, are actually doing with TIF districts.
TIF reform is needed very badly.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
===just an EO requiring agencies to do what they are supposed to do? ===
Except many aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, ergo the need for an EO.
- *sigh* - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
This is a superfluous waste of time which solves nothing.
- NotRich - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
EO #2: NOBODY in the JB Administration can ever wear a black biker vest with more than 1 patch>>>
- Not Rich either - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:46 pm:
The number of audit findings relating to the troubled implementation of ERP may surprise some people. There are and will continue to be a lot
- Team Warwick - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
Very much needed.
Under prev. admin. everything was a “secret”, need to know basis on everything.
Result was nobody knew anything, total c.f., agencies did not even “market” nor webpost what they were working on.
Agencies do a lot of good projects, but since prev. admin. was bad mouthing the state no one was allowed to dissent and say hey, we are doing good work and here it is. That went against his “plan” to bash everything. Mr. Negative on Illinois.
Along this line, can we have back our agency org charts, our agency phone lists (and by program so we can assist callers who got the wrong desk at first attempt), can we lose our “silo mentality” where we cant talk to employees in other depts. and work together across depts and agencies (Im a collaborative)? (I was once told to “stick to my duties” when I was offering experienced knowledge).
We couldn’t solve problems at the lowest possible level under Mr. Negative (nope we need fifteen people higher than us to say its ok if we come out of our silos and actually solve the problem), and we couldn’t speak up about what needs fixed or cleaned up or straightened out (because they didn’t do anything wrong ever)……………..and ……….wait for it…………the Rauner rule that we can’t talk to any elected officials. I think that’s actually illegal and a civil rights violation to prohibit government employees from participating as a citizen or offering insight to legislators if they have experience with a topic.
I kid you not, he came up with an employee rule that you were NOT allowed to talk any elected official about anything, punishable by firing.
Even if the topic had nothing to do with your state agency nor your job, but everything to do with you as a taxpayer and citizen. Unreal.
Can we go back to being normal and real again, and not harsh and mean?
All of that I suggested will not need a EO, however, he just needed the EO to clearly indicate it’s over with all that. Thanks buddy, thumbs up. My year is getting better already.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
An EO to tell people to do their jobs? Walk them out if their not doing their jobs.
- Team Warwick - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:00 pm:
Reverse the Rauner agencies rule that agency employees cant speak to legislators or any elected official (or anyone else for that matter) before somebody decides to sue the state for violating their rights as citizens of Illinois.
Hushing people is not transparent government.
Oh i have all kinds of cleanup ideas to submit, where is the suggestion box? He needs a “What’s On Your Mind” webpage, where people can pick a topic and send it in.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:05 pm:
“I hate TIF’s but the state would have to add some serious man power to accomplish that kind of audit .”
Great. Restaff the agencies. Get people back on the job and into the jobs that Rauner didn’t want done, like audit, compliance, oversight, etc.
A lot of those are AFSCME jobs that were once filled by my sisters and brothers.
Bring
Them
Back
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
Step increases
- Team Warwick - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
And thank you to Jim Edgar, he nailed it.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:11 pm:
An executive order for proper steps for all of these employees who will be doing the audits.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
Having Edgar give the “vouch” is far more important to the press release aspect to moving policy through this EO
The crutch of Edgar reinforces that this administration sees Edgar not as a crutch but as someone who can give good counsel to a newly minted governor with no governmental experience.
As Edgar goes, I will take serious note and put under serious consideration.
Edgar has this right.
- Smitty Irving - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
Anonymous 12:48
To do one’s job requires staff & budgets. Blago / Filan / Quinn eviscerated staffing, Rauner didn’t have budgets. Quinn & Rauner were shown the door by the voters. Now, can we quit blaming the employees?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:21 pm:
Anonymous- an EO isn’t necessary for placement on the proper step. That’s doable right now. It’s also no going to get us the reparations for the wage theft. That’s the legislature who has to appropriate that.
No Pritzker has to merely follow the law and the judgement of the courts to place us and repay us.
It’s a matter of following the law
or not.
The courts decided that Rauner broke the law.
Will Pritzker side with the law or Rauner?
Will Madigan/Cullerton side with the law or Rauner?
We shall see
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
–This is a “back to basics” focus on serving the public…–
Let that be your guiding star.
The last four years of the Messiah who was going to “save” us brought nothing but dysfunction, destruction and billions upon billions in new operating debt.
More of that “saving” we can do without.
- Frank - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
Honeybear et al, I sent a FOIA request to the labor board. JB and the union have to submit a joint memo next Thursday on compliance with steps and backpay. Think we’ll get relief? Or will they ask for more time?
- Just Curious - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
You need to look at the substantive changes to the Illinois TIF Act via Public Act 91-478 that became effective November 1, 1999. In general, the 1999 TIF reform involved extensive changes to the TIF, including tightening qualification requirements and increasing transparency. Since 1999, other changes to the TIF Act have been made to resolve issues or clarify provisions of this complicated statute. You should review the Illinois Comptroller’s website for a listing of the TIF reports. Compared to other states, the Illinois Act has some of the most comprehensive requirements regarding transparency
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
“An EO to tell people to do their jobs? Walk them out if their not doing their jobs.”
Anonymous- the big problem is that most agencies are husks. It’s not that they aren’t doing their jobs. It’s that in a lot of cases, there is nobody in the job to do it.
Restaff the agencies
- Merica - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 3:30 pm:
How about an EO for increased maternity/paternity leave and benefits. Not all pregnancies are equal. A cesarean delivery requires twice as much recovery time as a natural delivery. Some children are born with disabilities, or born prematurely, requiring extra time for the parents to responsibly adjust. Some mothers have complications requiring hospitalization prior to birth. Daycares will not take a child until they are 12 weeks old, but the State only pays for 4 weeks of leave, forcing parents to borrow money for 8 weeks.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 4:25 pm:
Honeybear - So who at the agencies will carry out the executive order? If restaffing is the issue, he put the cart before the horse it seems.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 4:46 pm:
Most states allow internal audits to be released by FOIA. Illinois does not. Strong suggestion to include.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 4:58 pm:
Anonymous-dude, we’re down but not out. As Rich says “Don’t argue like a child”
- Justacitizen - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 7:34 pm:
===Except many aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, ergo the need for an EO.===
I Respectfully disagree Rich. The law trumps the EO. I hope the Pritzker administration studies the current laws & regulations and shows some restraint before issuing feel good EOs.
- Sez Me - Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 8:07 am:
@- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 15, 19 @ 4:46 pm:
Most states allow internal audits to be released by FOIA. Illinois does not. Strong suggestion to include.
__________
It’s a very good thing that internal audits are exempt from FOIA. This better enables internal audit to be a resource, and the issues can be found and fixed. Agencies are less likely to consult and cooperate with internal audit if their deficiencies are broadcast to the public.
Illinois has the right balance. An internal audit function exempt from FOIA that management and staff are able to consult with to remedy issues and an external audit presence to hold them publicly accountable.