I joined my Senate Republican colleagues in asking Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate concerns raised by local governments about possible misuse of Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act.
FOIA gives people an essential way to see what their government is doing. Our request does not challenge legitimate records requests or the public’s right to information. We are asking the Attorney General to determine whether a reported pattern of requests, threatened lawsuits and settlement demands involves misuse of the law.
The Illinois Municipal League surveyed 689 municipalities. Among those that responded, 41.2 percent said their FOIA requests had increased by more than 50 percent over the past five years. Local officials have also described repetitive requests followed by threats of court action. For a small township or fire district without full-time staff, responding to a request and a potential lawsuit can be a significant burden. Those reports warrant a closer look; they do not, on their own, establish wrongdoing.
FOIA should remain a strong tool for holding government accountable. If someone is using it to pressure small local governments into settlements, the Attorney General should find out. And if the investigation finds no wrongdoing, taxpayers and local officials deserve to know that too.
You can read our letter to the Attorney General here.