by Adam Andrzejewski
Honorable Sen. John J. Cullerton | Senator 6th District | 111 Capitol Building | Springfield, IL 62706 -- 1051 West Belmont | Chicago, IL 60657
Dear Senator John J. Cullerton:
Congratulations on your November 19th election as Illinois Senate President.
As grassroots public policy leaders, we call on you to set a new, good government example of Illinois Senate leadership. Please institute full transparency of future and previous monies given to the Senate Democratic caucus in regard to “member initiative” spending.
In fiscal year 2008, the only caucus in the Illinois House or Senate that failed to disclose member initiatives was the Illinois Senate Democrats. The Democrats in the Illinois House released their member initiatives as did the Senate and House Republicans. Senate Democrats even failed to release this public spending when requested by American’s For Prosperity and Judicial Watch under the Freedom of Information Act. As you are probably aware, Judicial Watch has filed suit to uncover the information.
Public spending by definition should be done publically. This is a well worn maxim dating back to the founding of America. Article I Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution says, “…and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.”
Forcing public bodies by lawsuit into the release of public spending is a sure sign of bad public policy. Please reverse the reputation of your Senate Democrats, as your caucus received and spent $2 billion of FY’08 monies under the cloak of privacy. Please demonstrate good government leadership by proactively releasing the public spending of your caucus.
Thank you for your urgent consideration to implement this request.
Sincerely,
John Bambenek
Co-Founder, Illinois Citizen Coalition
Adam Andrzejewski
Director, ForTheGoodOfIllinois
