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An attempt by members of the governor’s hate crimes commission to hold a private meeting has been shot down by the attorney general.
Two members of Gov. Blagojevich’s hate crimes commission say the panel should gather privately to defuse a racially charged controversy that “continues to spiral out of control,” but Attorney General Lisa Madigan said such a meeting would be illegal.In a letter obtained Thursday by the Sun-Times, two members of Blagojevich’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes expressed frustration that neither the commission’s leadership nor the governor’s office has moved to address fallout from a wave of resignations in the past two weeks. […]
“We suggest that a professional facilitator be engaged to manage the discussion and, further, that we commit to a common goal of resolving this matter in a manner that is in the best interest of fulfilling the mission of the commission,” they wrote. “No press will be allowed to attend the meeting, and a formal statement for the press will be drafted and agreed upon by all commission members before distribution to the media.”
But Madigan, who is a member of the panel, quickly shot down the proposal as a violation of the state Open Meetings Act, which requires that taxpayer-funded bodies do their business in public.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 11:09 am
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Lisa is correct.
But also, I think those two people are just well meaning frustrated members of the Commission struggling for something positive to do about the mess. They are trying to be creative and probably never even thought about the Open Mtgs. issue.
The mess will continue as long as the absence of leadership from the Governor continues.
As a political issue :It’s the problem that keeps on givin!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 11:24 am
Lisa, needs to tell the Offices of Executive Inspector General’s about the Open Meeting Act which requires tax payer funded bodies do their business in public. Aren’t the Offices of Executive Inspector Generals tay payer funded bodies? http://www.ag.state.il.us/government/open_meetings.html
Why hasn’t the Illinois Attorney General raised the same issues with the Governor’s Office of Executive Inspector General whose news section is still dated December 9, 2004 and we are steadfastly approaching December 9, 2006?
http://inspectorgeneral.il.gov/news.htm
Why hasn’t her Executive Inspector General divulged the ongoings of her office?
http://www.ag.state.il.us/government/ethics_inspector_general.html
Since the creation of these offices, the public does not know what these offices are doing!
They are funded with taxpayer dollars but no public information. If you log on to the Governor’s OEIG’s website, “about the office”, “public record”, the viewer is linked to the U.S Department of Justice Freedom of Information Webpage. Why? http://inspectorgeneral.il.gov/about.htm, “not public records”.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan should answer these questions.
Comment by WHERE IS THE ETHICS? Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 12:13 pm
Besides the blatant open meetings violations I can’t believe the idiocracy of spending taxpayer funds to hire a professional mediator. This commission should be disbanded.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 12:50 pm
Cut em slack….
Those two people aren’t anybody’s opperative or staff. They are regular-jane citizens volunteered to be on a Commission because they care about the issue and they thought they had an idea about how to fix the problem…..
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 1:09 pm
Lisa Madigan has done nothing about corruption. Her dad is Rod’s campaign chairman.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 1:40 pm
Anonymous-1:40:
You have raised a valid conflict of interest!
The investigation of the Governor undertaken by Attorney General Lisa Madigan which is stalled in her office for the reasons of: her father is the Chairman of the Governors campaign!
This is an obtrusive conflict of interest! Since her step-father is the Chairman of the Governor’s campaign, her interest is also in the Governors campaign which is why the investigation of the Governor is just that; an investigation.
What’s happening with Cook County States Attorney Dick Divine investigation?
What’s next?
Comment by ONE M.C.M.A.D Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 2:31 pm
Lisa just went up many notches in my book. Why it’s so hard for other Dems to do the right thing here is beyond me.
Blagojevich is bringing the whole party into the slime if Madigan and Quinn can’t talk some sense to the man.
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 2:36 pm
Maybe Lisa can talk daddy into backing somebody else in the general election if blogo wins next week.
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 6:00 pm
Open meetings???? What do they call it when the Dems or Repubs “caucus” in private in the General Assembly? Is there a special exemption for them? There was a ruling within the last couple of years that instructed the Republican Sangamon County Board members to cease their caucus before meetings.
Comment by tough guy Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 8:41 pm
====Is there a special exemption for them?====
Yes.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 8:43 pm
I probably should have guessed that. Thanks Rich!
Comment by tough guy Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 8:52 pm