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The bunker mentality strikes again

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Illinois

* The secrecy demands of this administration never cease to amaze me…

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration claims hundreds of advocates favor his state budget ideas. But it’s releasing just four responses it received to a taxpayer-funded effort aimed at building broad support for his plan.

The four endorsement forms, titled “I Support Governor Blagojevich’s Plan to Jump-Start the Economy and Protect Illinois Families,” were released by the Department of Human Services in response to an Associated Press request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Other state agencies, including the governor’s office, cited privacy concerns for withholding documents in response to the AP’s request, refusing to even acknowledge contacting anyone for support or receiving completed endorsement forms.

But when asked whether Blagojevich was disappointed with just four responses, spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the administration received 1,500 signed forms supporting the governor’s economic stimulus ideas, including a $34 billion construction plan. She did not provide any documentation to support the claim.

Ottenhoff said the forms weren’t made public because the people filling them out did not give permission to release them. But state law requires public documents that contain private information be released with the confidential data blacked out, which was done on three of the four forms released by DHS.

It almost doesn’t matter what it is, if you want information out of this administration you’re just out of luck. The laws are pretty clear on these things, but the Blagojevich people will either cite far-fetched loopholes or just make stuff up when they deny the requests. I’ve been thinking lately of filing a FOIA to see how many FOIA requests have been rejected or granted, but that would probably be rejected as well.

The bottom line here, is that they’re spending tax money, but are refusing to say how they’re doing it.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:34 am

Comments

Scary! Rod and George W. aka Dumb and Dumber.

Comment by Big Brother Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:51 am
That is because they were filled out by staffers, the people were made up. Rich, one question…this administration seems to continue to have “Acting” Directors in a lot of agencies, is there an advantage to doing this? DOes it bend some rules?

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:54 am
I thought FOIA had a provision requiring them to track FOIA requests? haven’t looked at the statute in a while.

FOIA provides for attorney fees if somone has to sue to get info. The Blago people seem to be relying on most people not pursuing the court claim because of cost or time issues. SO they deny.

They should be careful thogh, somone may think to try for a mandamus or injunction prohibitng related to these basless denials. This would elevate the failures to comply to more thne a violatuion of the statute, they would become violations of a court order.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 9:57 am
This doesnt seem odd to me. People are terrified of the wrath of Madigan and probably asked that their info not be released. In this “youre with us or youre against us” environment that has thoroughly permeated every facet of Springfield, people dont want to be thrust into the middle of these petty ego fights.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:15 am
Even when FOIA passed, some in the press thought the State operated more openly BEFORE FOIA than after. That was in the 80’s and it has gotten only worse. Look at the explosive growth in the number of exemptions.
Unfortunately, without a lot of teeth and court actions, passing laws will not make politicians honest nor responsive to the public right to know what elected officials are doing with tax dollars and the power they are trusted with to govern.

Maybe it is time for me to move to Fiji.

Comment by Skeptic Cal Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:23 am
“I’ve been thinking lately of filing a FOIA to see how many FOIA requests have been rejected or granted, but that would probably be rejected as well.”

As you probably know, FOIA’ing FOIA requests is a legit FOIA request. In fact, a similar FOIA request was the subject of a key law suit thata helped open up Chicago (a little).

Duncan Publishing, Inc. v. City of Chicago, Case No. 1-97-3271, 1st District, March 31, 1999

http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/1999/1stDistrict/March/HTML/1973271.htm

Comment by BannedForLife Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:25 am
Banned, there are plenty of legit FOIA requestions, backed up by case law, statutes and the attorney general, which have been turned down.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 10:29 am
In both Springfield and Washington, the Executive branches believe they are palace courts, all-powerful and accountable only to the Sun King (or Son King or Son-in-Law King, as the case may be).

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:04 am
Would there be any retired folks out there who might might have the time to take on a test case against an administration that refuses to follow the law regarding FOIA requests? Their blatant disregard for the law is unbelievable but they will continue to get away with it if not challanged in court.

Comment by One of the 35 Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 11:35 am
“I thought FOIA had a provision requiring them to track FOIA requests?”

A read of the IL FOIA might lead you to guess yes, but an unfortunate side-effect of the Duncan case was that the courts backed up the City in NOT keeping a central, City-wide repository of all FOIA requests and denials. The City argued that each dept. was a separate “public body” and incredibly the judge backed them up. Ever since Chicago citizens have had to deal with the problem of figuring out which of the several dozen FOIA officers in City govt. to direct their request, and getting the “wrong dept.” run-around.

Comment by BannedForLife Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 12:27 pm
I wonder how many forms were filled out by non-supporters. It was a great place to post complaints, and I did so. I do not think I was alone.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 1:08 pm
I am familiar with the case declaring each department within the city to be a separate “public body” for the purposes of Illinois FOIA. It was a terrible precedent and makes things terribly confusing, even for public bodies.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 2:54 pm
Hope you file the FOIA request you
mentioned……

Comment by Esteban Wednesday, Jun 4, 08 @ 3:27 pm