The BGA story
Caught Part 2 of the Better Government Association story on WTAD.....missed Part I. It was a nice job....pointed out some of the flaws in the BGA's method. So now I guess I should go back and retitle the earlier post.....maybe a "Near-Miss" rather than a "Miss."
posted by Allthenewsthatfits at 8:01 AM
1 Comments:
I appreciate you pointing to the study. I'm not too proud to take a hint from a member of the public. :)
Here's the text of part 1 (sorry I can't include the audio bites):
A RECENT STUDY BY AN ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG GROUP SHOWS MANY COUNTIES IN THE STATE ARE HAVING TROUBLE COMPLYING WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
KEVIN PAYNE HAS THE FIRST OF A TWO PART STORY.
U.S. CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO SEE HOW THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTED, ACCORDING TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, OR FOYA.
BUT A STUDY FROM THE CHICAGO-BASED BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION SHOWS 62 PERCENT OF ILLINOIS PUBLIC BODIES FAILED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REQUESTED AS PART OF THE STUDY.
DAN SPRAY IS CHIEF INVESTIGATOR FOR THE B-G-A. HE SAYS IN MANY CASES THEY GOT NO RESPONSE.
ROLL 17978A1 0:20
AGENCIES WERE ASKED EITHER FOR OFFICIAL PHONE RECORDS FOR THEIR TOP OFFICIAL, OR FOR A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LISTING--AN ITEM PUBLISHED ANNUALLY IN NEWSPAPERS.
ACCORDING TO SPRAY, NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT SOME OFFICES SEEMED TO RESIST COMPLYING WITH THE LAW.
ROLL 17978B1 0:18
THE B-G-A WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT REQUIRED FROM PUBLIC BODIES, AS WELL AS MORE EDUCATION FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH FOYA REQUESTS.
YOU CAN READ THE COMPLETE STUDY AT BETTERGOV-DOT-ORG.
COMING UP TOMORROW IN PART TWO, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW WESTERN ILLINOIS FARED IN THE B-G-A STUDY.
Post a Comment
<< Home