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RSS FeedShould the salaries of all Illinois state employees be available for public viewing on a Web site, as suggested in a bill in the General Assembly?
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| Yes | 74% | 58 votes | Total: 78 votes | |
| No | 26% | 20 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesFor over two years, Americans for Prosperity has been fighting for transparency in state government. They've also been working in conjunction with Judicial Watch filing hundreds of FOIA's in an attempt to expose hidden spending in the state's budget. At times their work has been fruitful and other times their work to obtain information from the state has been extremely frustrating, as many state agencies and elected officials have refused to adhere to the FOIA laws.
As an unfortunate result of their work, this past July, Americans for Prosperity joined Judicial Watch in filing a lawsuit against the offices of the governor and senate president for violations of the FOIA. In fact, the General Assembly, heard specific testimony from Judicial Watch regarding the lawsuit during the recent House impeachment trial of governor Blagojevich.
In 2008, Americans for Prosperity worked with a bi-partisan group of lawmakers to pass HB4765, last year's version of the Illinois Accountability Portal. Unfortunately, the bill was killed in the Senate Rules Committee under the leadership of Senator Emil Jones.
Illinois, now more than ever, needs to let the light of public scrutiny shine on state spending.
In a state that is renowned for political corruption, insider deals, pay-to-play politics, and now the shameful spectacle of a governor allegedly attempting to sell a United States Senate seat, we can see no reason not to provide the public with as much information as possible regarding the inner workings of state government. Our state's current opaque spending process creates the perception, or possible reality, of legislators or bureaucrats using the state budget to fund unnecessary, wasteful, or even corrupt programs, confident that most Illinoisans will never know about it. Giving taxpayers the tools to understand where and how their money is being spent will make state government more accountable and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.
HB35, would create a real time on-line searchable website that includes comprehensive information about state spending, HB 35's database is the first step in helping eliminate the perception of impropriety by ensuring that state spending is subject to public scrutiny. It will also, even when there is no perceived wrongdoing, allow taxpayers to hold the government to higher standards, reviewing exactly how money is being spent.
Transparent government is good government. AND Good government has nothing to hide from the taxpayers who fund it. Therefore, allowing information about state spending to be widely accessible will create accountability and openness providing citizens with an opportunity to once again regain trust in their government officials.
It is for these reasons and more that we urge you to support HB35.
Learn more about this author, Joe Calomino.
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No
by Robert Lynch
No! I work for the State Of Illinois, and my salary is negotiated by the Teamsters Union and it isn't anyones business. The people that need to have their salaries put out in public are the Management that was put in their positions because they are cronies of someone. The Directors, Asst. Directors and all non union titles that are filled with political hacks, should be made public.
Do we get to see what a Dockworker for a freight line make? Do we get to see what a CEO of Ford, GM or any of those companies that have been bailed out. The answer is no. Why? Because privacy is a right that we need to hang onto. How about charities? Do we get to see there managers salaries? No!
The every day employee that strives to feed their families and such, don't need to have their wages pasted all over the Internet. That is an invasion of privacy period! The every day employee is not the one selling Senate Seats or Fund Raising for a crooked Governor. It is people like Roland Burris, Dick Durbin , The wife of the Governors etc. Or like Senator DeMuzio who has a son working for the state and wants him to be named to the Illinois State Police top Honcho even though he has no experience or has he worn a Troopers Uniform. Those are the people that need to have every cent they make made public. Not the normal worker.
Salaries are and should be confidential unless they are the subject of a court case for a Divorce or restitution. Isn't the Government in our business now. Why should my wages be made public? I haven't made any illegal money or try and sell a job to someone. Or reward someone with a no bid contract because they gave me money to run for office. This is stupid. Our lives are too public now. NO MORE!
Just because I am employed by the State of Illinois, doesn't give you the right to know what I make. Next it will be what I am deducting from my check for investments and taxes and insurance. Then you'll want to publish how much of a tax refund I got. Then you'll want to know what I eat for lunch every day, just because I work for the state. Then you'll want to know how many times that I have sex every month. When will it end. We are Public Servants, not slaves.
We are employed by the state to do a job. And that is why we get a salary. How much of a salary is based on many things. Some folks are unskilled and some of us have experience that matters. And some will get a raise, just because they know the Governor or have a Mother or Father or some relative or friend that has connections. But most of us are just plain old workers. And what we make is nobody's business.
Learn more about this author, Robert Lynch.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
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