Friday, May 09, 2008
Mike Tryon Asks for Help in Springing His Transparency Bill from Senate Rules Committee
Here is State Rep. Mike Tryon's press release. I would suggest that Tryon's headline may be a bit too optimistic.
A Call to Action:The photo of State Rep. Mike Tryon is the one I affectionately refer to as the one with angel hair. It was taken at Camp Algonquin at the first NASA Education Veterans' Stand Down.
Web Portal Would End
Culture of Corruption
Since I began serving in the General Assembly, there have been several attempts by lawmakers to pass transparency legislation.Illinois residents are so tired of corruption in state government with our former governor serving prison time and our current governor under federal investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald has called the Governor’s administration ‘pay to play on steroids.’
Due to increased infighting between the Governor and the state’s Democrat leaders, suspicion and distrust have replaced compromise and negotiation.
Everyone agrees on the need for transparency to break down the walls of secrecy and bring about real accountability to the process….. but somehow, these pieces of legislation always end up lost in the shuffle. A parliamentary move to keep them in committee or a claim that previous transparency bills are not comprehensive enough has left this issue in limbo.
Enough is enough.
This year, I have introduced the most comprehensive piece of transparency legislation that would shed sunshine on state finances and end this culture of corruption once and for all.
House Bill 4765 would create the Illinois Accountability Portal and would provide the public with direct access to:• State Employees & Consultants: a database of all current state employees and individual consultants, sorted separately by name, agency, position title, current pay rate and year-to-date payWith the help of taxpayer watchdog group Americans for Prosperity who partnered with me on House Bill 4765; this legislation was unanimously approved in the House of Representatives last month.
• State Expenditures: a database of all current state expenditures, sorted separately by agency, category, customer and representative district
• Tax Credits: a database of all current state tax credits, sorted by tax credit category, customer and representative district
• Sales Tax Breaks: a database of all revocations and suspensions of state occupation and use tax certificates of registration and all revocations and suspensions of state professional licenses sorted by name, geographic location and certificate of registration number or license number, as applicable. Professional licenses revocations and suspensions shall be posted only if resulting from a failure to pay taxes, license fees, or child support.
• State Contracts: a database of all current state contracts, sorted separately by contractor name, awarding officer or agency, contract value, and goods or services provided.
House Bill 4765 has garnered widespread support from several grassroots organizations, trade associations, press associations, and taxpayer protection groups. More than a dozen local and national organizations have signed a letter in support of the bill.
I firmly believe the Illinois Accountability Portal will reduce the culture of political handouts, pay-to-play politics and pork barrel spending that has tarnished the public’s trust in government.
Over the years, Illinois has invested in technology that can easily put state spending on the desktop. The Illinois Accountability Portal will also be a cost-saving measure as it will reduce the number of Freedom of Information requests that are processed.
Currently, House Bill 4765 is being held hostage in the Senate Rules Committee.
With more than two dozen House sponsors and several Senate sponsors signed on, it is imperative that this bill be given a fair trial and be debated in a Senate Committee.
This week, newspapers reported that Senator Debbie Halvorson was removed as the powerful chairperson of Rules and replaced by Senator Rickey Hendon. With a week to get bills out of Senate Committee, I urge you to call Senator Hendon and demand that he release this bill out of Rules.
Additionally, call your Senator and those serving on the Rules Committee and urge them to help take Illinois off pay to play steroids. Illinois taxpayers deserve to see how their hard-earned money is being spent.
Enough is Enough.
For a list of the Senators serving on the Rules Committee, visit here.
For more information, visit Americans for Prosperity Illinois website.
Sincerely,
Michael W. Tryon
Illinois State Representative
64th District
Labels: Mike Tryon, Transparency
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
MCC “Transparency.” Not.
Notice how I am trying to catch up to the lingo of the younger generation in my headline.
McHenry County Board member Scott Summers asked a couple of months ago for MCC staffers to explore and cost out whether th board's meeting could be live streamed on the internet.
Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting Kathleen Plinske gave the report.
The biggest objection presented was that band width for 6 or 7 o'clock meetings would compete with high student and teacher use of the internet facilities.
The biggest cost cited was the need for a communications technician at meetings. The pay would be $20 an hour.
Big deal, I'm thinking.
As might be expected, “the staff doesn't recommend video,” she said.
Summers asked about the band width requirements for live stream audio.
“The requirements for ban width would be significantly less,” she observed, but noted it would still “require a technician.”
“I think it's a good experiment,” Summers said, pointing out that the only equipment cost would be a $200 recorder.
Ally Donna Kurtz suggested it “gives us a proving ground,” but she asked that the audio be indexed by agenda item.
“Let's break out the agenda items so people have a menu to pick from,” she advocated.
“In terms of splitting up the audio, that's not something staff had thought about,” Plinske replied. “It would increase the amount of staff time.”
Maybe a bit, but the board secretary could easily note the time when consideration began on new agenda items.
But, whether it was practical or not was irrelevant, the board majority had made up its mind that this would be too much transparency.
“I'm not really for this,” Mary Miller said.
As they went around the room, Summers, who sits next to Miller, expressed his support for a six-month trial.
“Not in favor,” veteran board member Barbara Walters said.
“I'm not in favor. We have an open meeting. Pelple can come,” Frances Glossen, who often votes on the losing side with Summers and Kurtz, said.
“Not in favor,” MCC Board President George Lowe continued.
“Not either,” Carol Larson said.
Arguing for “transparency,” Kurtz said, “The expense is insignificant.”
“I'm in favor of it,” the youngest, student board member Katie Claypool said.
Kurtz asked if it would be voted upon at Thursday's board meeting.
“Not on the agenda,” was the reply...from Lowe, I believe.
“So, there will be no vote on it,” Kurtz observed.
Face it.
This board does not want anyone to be able to listen to what they have said.
= = = = =
McHenry County Board member Scott Summers is in the top photo. Trustee Donna Kurtz can be seen talking in the one below. Behind her is Trustee Carol Larson. At the bottom can be seen the board and several administrators. Kathleen Plinske is seated to the left at the table in front of the board.
Thanks for the additional information from the person who left a comment. (I have corrected the spelling mistake.)
McHenry County Board member Scott Summers asked a couple of months ago for MCC staffers to explore and cost out whether th board's meeting could be live streamed on the internet.Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting Kathleen Plinske gave the report.
The biggest objection presented was that band width for 6 or 7 o'clock meetings would compete with high student and teacher use of the internet facilities.
The biggest cost cited was the need for a communications technician at meetings. The pay would be $20 an hour.
Big deal, I'm thinking.
As might be expected, “the staff doesn't recommend video,” she said.
Summers asked about the band width requirements for live stream audio.
“The requirements for ban width would be significantly less,” she observed, but noted it would still “require a technician.”
“I think it's a good experiment,” Summers said, pointing out that the only equipment cost would be a $200 recorder.Ally Donna Kurtz suggested it “gives us a proving ground,” but she asked that the audio be indexed by agenda item.
“Let's break out the agenda items so people have a menu to pick from,” she advocated.
“In terms of splitting up the audio, that's not something staff had thought about,” Plinske replied. “It would increase the amount of staff time.”
Maybe a bit, but the board secretary could easily note the time when consideration began on new agenda items.
But, whether it was practical or not was irrelevant, the board majority had made up its mind that this would be too much transparency.“I'm not really for this,” Mary Miller said.
As they went around the room, Summers, who sits next to Miller, expressed his support for a six-month trial.
“Not in favor,” veteran board member Barbara Walters said.
“I'm not in favor. We have an open meeting. Pelple can come,” Frances Glossen, who often votes on the losing side with Summers and Kurtz, said.
“Not in favor,” MCC Board President George Lowe continued.
“Not either,” Carol Larson said.
Arguing for “transparency,” Kurtz said, “The expense is insignificant.”
“I'm in favor of it,” the youngest, student board member Katie Claypool said.
Kurtz asked if it would be voted upon at Thursday's board meeting.
“Not on the agenda,” was the reply...from Lowe, I believe.
“So, there will be no vote on it,” Kurtz observed.
Face it.
This board does not want anyone to be able to listen to what they have said.
= = = = =
McHenry County Board member Scott Summers is in the top photo. Trustee Donna Kurtz can be seen talking in the one below. Behind her is Trustee Carol Larson. At the bottom can be seen the board and several administrators. Kathleen Plinske is seated to the left at the table in front of the board.
Thanks for the additional information from the person who left a comment. (I have corrected the spelling mistake.)
Labels: Barbara Walters, Carol Larson, Donna Kurtz, Frances Glosson, George Lowe, Kathleen Plinske, Katie Claypool, Mary Miller, McHenry County College, Scott Summers, Transparency
Thursday, February 28, 2008
McHenry County College Becomes More Transparent
At Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting, the McHenry County College Board considered a proposal by Trustee Scott Summers to put the already computerized board packets on the internet.
Available electronically previously only the those on the board and MCC employees, now the people who elect the board and pay the employees' salaries can find out what the board is going to do to or for them before tonight's 7 PM meeting.
You can even read the second version of the feasibility study by Economics Research Associates, dated February 2.
Having examined this in some detail, my hope and advice is that the college board not repeat its past practice of not letting anyone ask questions about the report and the commitment of twenty years of tax dollars before proceeding further.
Oh, I forgot.
The board has allowed people to ask questions in the public comment period.
They just won't give any answers.
Available electronically previously only the those on the board and MCC employees, now the people who elect the board and pay the employees' salaries can find out what the board is going to do to or for them before tonight's 7 PM meeting.
You can even read the second version of the feasibility study by Economics Research Associates, dated February 2.Having examined this in some detail, my hope and advice is that the college board not repeat its past practice of not letting anyone ask questions about the report and the commitment of twenty years of tax dollars before proceeding further.
Oh, I forgot.
The board has allowed people to ask questions in the public comment period.
They just won't give any answers.
Labels: Baseball Stadium, MCC, McHenry County Board, Transparency
