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If at first you don’t succeed…

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* The Sun-Times notes a change in FOIA tactics by the governor

For the past year, Gov. Bruce Rauner has resisted efforts by news organizations to obtain copies of his daily schedule, blacking out big swaths of the documents, mounting a legal fight to keep them under wraps and — after those efforts failed — using abbreviations and code to hide the names of those the governor met with or called.

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After losing the fight to black out portions of his schedule, Rauner and his staff began concealing his activities by just leaving information off his schedule to begin with.

On Oct. 7, for example, the governor’s schedule listed four afternoon meetings — with “MH,” “EB,” “JM,” “MW,” “JC” and “AP.” There’s no identification beyond initials. […]

Two weeks later, on Oct. 27, Rauner set aside 30 minutes for a call with “EM.” Ed Murphy is his director of research.

The rest of that day’s schedule was blank — not unusual for Rauner. The governor held no public events the next day either, when his schedule showed only that he would videotape a short message and make phone calls to “JS” and “SK.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:24 am

Comments

  1. Keep in mind that this is the self-proclaimed outsider that was elected to “shake up Springfield.”

    Comment by slow down Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:29 am

  2. Does the governor think we are chumbolones? Can someone at the Trib please look into it pronto?

    Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:30 am

  3. Good to see the Governor is working hard to keep his repeated promise to be “totally transparent, the most transparent administration ever.”
    What is his email contact again?

    Comment by Beaner Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:30 am

  4. Could we have a contest to come up with descriptions of who these people may be and what they would meet or talk about?

    Comment by Spliff Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:32 am

  5. Webster’s:

    Transparent, adj.

    : able to be seen through
    : easy to notice or understand
    : honest and open : not secretive

    Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:33 am

  6. His next opponent will have an opportunity to show that not only was he not able to govern and develop a budget, he was not workin’ either.

    Comment by New Jersey Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:33 am

  7. Only 2 letters necessary when it comes to Rauner’s calendar……BS

    Comment by Big Joe Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:37 am

  8. People, I think we can join forces to figure this out.

    “AP” is clearly Adrian Peterson of the MN Vikings. “JC” is Jesus Christ.

    Who needs “transparency”?

    Comment by Linus Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:39 am

  9. I dont get it. Why use codes? Once the schedule is made public, wont the press ask what the codes represent? Will the governor’s office refuse to answer that question? If this is the case, why appear to be secretive if you will eventually need to fill in the blanks. I’ve learned over time that if you’re trying to hide something its usually something that you shouldn’t be doing.

    Comment by Anon Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 9:51 am

  10. Mr. Deceptive forgot to read the GOP Platform on their website.

    The word TRANSPARENT is mentioned 9 times
    The word TRANSPARENCY is mentioned 12 times
    The word ACCOUNTABLE is mentioned 4 times
    The word ACCOUNTABILITY is mentioned 7 times

    Poor GOP. With friends like #Rauner, who needs enemies. /s

    Comment by cdog Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:00 am

  11. Not sure why having a phone call with your director of research is such a secret. This kind of goofy stuff undermines trust and credibility even among the Gov’s supporters.

    Comment by phocion Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:02 am

  12. This is so reminiscent of Cheney’s Energy Task Force that brought us the largest run up in energy prices, and a war, etc.

    Nothing good ever happens in secret.

    Comment by cdog Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:04 am

  13. Reads like Rauner is scared of everything and everyone.

    Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:06 am

  14. Guess we only get the full names when he’s meeting with “world leaders.”

    Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:08 am

  15. BR: This is BS.

    Comment by OutHereInTheMiddle Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:11 am

  16. This administration has shown an amazing inability to prioritize battles worth fighting. Why drag this out? What’s the potential “big win” here?

    If you’re going to play this game why don’t you have a FOIA compliance superstar on the roster? A real one.

    Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:26 am

  17. He’s runnin’ the state as a business and this is how Wall Street conducts its business.

    This is an AB conversation. It’s proprietary information, attorney-client privilege - you know - the “secret sauce” of his trickle-down/supply-side/Arthur Gaffer/Donna Arduin/laissez faire Turn-Around Agenda.

    Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:32 am

  18. Bogus move on the Governor’s part. Transparency indeed!

    Comment by Stones Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:46 am

  19. Laffer. Arthur Laffer.

    Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 10:47 am

  20. He is lying. My initials are JS and I didn’t get a call!

    Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:33 am

  21. You won’t find any AA on any of those logs!

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:39 am

  22. AA, that’s our problem!

    Comment by Norseman Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:42 am

  23. None of the 172 members in the legislature can criticize him over this.

    They have placed zero requirements on themselves to follow open meetings regulations, what the decide in private or to be transparent about who they meet with. The General Assembly only requires those things for Mayors and local governments. Ironic.

    I don’t like that Rauner is playing games with the FOIA, but it does highlight the lack of consistency in our state’s sunshine laws.

    Comment by hockey fan Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:48 am

  24. Thing like this make it difficult for independents to consider Rauner next election.

    Comment by Saluki Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 11:49 am

  25. Gov, ethics is not what you say, its what you do…..

    Comment by Ghost Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:09 pm

  26. It is good to know that Rauner has never kept his repeated promise to be “totally transparent, the most transparent administration ever.” Does Rauner & his staff not know what a totally transparent administration is?
    Since Rauner & team is hiding the guv’s appointments, one can & should conclude what Rauner & team are doing is not legal.

    Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:15 pm

  27. Thing like this make it difficult for the Rich Miller & the Democrat leaders to follow Rauner next moves (poison pills).

    Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:18 pm

  28. Rich - have you found and entry for RM yet?

    Comment by Archiesmom Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 12:51 pm

  29. Transparency is needed. foia requests are there for a reason, and intended to dispel any notion of impropriety. It’s not like Rauner was calling EM or any other initials for a movie review (or perhaps he was). In a state like illinois with its history of shananagans, you would think Rauner would be better than this. Shame BVR.

    Comment by Just ain't right Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 1:24 pm

  30. Too busy avoidin’ and politickin’ to be budgetin’ and governin’

    Comment by Droppin' G's By the G Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 1:50 pm

  31. I am going to umm have to umm disagree with everyone.

    BR is being totally transparent. I can see right through him. He is full of beans.

    Comment by JS Mill Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 3:07 pm

  32. Wheres Lisa? Howz this any diff than stonewalling or redacting? He’s the so-called gov, so he’s on the peoples/taxpayers business full time. Produce the full records or go to jail. Easy choice.

    Comment by sal-says Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 3:14 pm

  33. ==Rich - have you found and entry for RM yet?==

    There aren’t any.

    Comment by wh Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 4:04 pm

  34. Meant to say:
    ==Rich - have you found and entry for RM yet?==

    There aren’t any. The times Rich was scheduled all say, “Oscar!!!!” No one has figured that code out yet.

    Comment by Whatever Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm

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