A tale of 2 headlines

This one is sure to play out in many states during the upcoming legislative sessions.

“Louisiana faces $2 billion shortfall next year; $345 million deficit in current budget”

“Teachers union seeks $2,200 raise in ’09″

This is a summary of Sunshine Review’s evaluation of LA school district websites:
-12 sites didn’t disclose contact information for board members
-35 did not list a meeting schedule
-72 had no budget information
-80 did not list information on how to obtain public records
-80 did not disclose any information about lobbying activities

With results like that, do schools deserve more money in Louisiana? Disclose, then ask for a raise. Taxpayers deserve to know how and where their money is being spent, especially in trying economic times.

What is a greater call for transparency?

Kate Campaigne asks from the Illinois Policy Institute’s Open Illinois blog, “Transparency would help inject direly needed sunshine into government spending and shine a light on the pay-to-play politics, corruption, and insider deals swallowing up our state. After this monumental arrest, how can elected officials say no to implementing transparency?”

Good question. There has been the usual parade of outrage from public officials from both sides of the aisle, and a growing call for a special election instead of an appointment (as stated in the IL Constitution now) but no major elected official is talking transparency.

So the real question becomes, who will step up to the plate to take a leadership role in implement the transparency legislation needed? The IL governor’s race will be a crowded event. Candidates: Show IL voters your commitment to them (and all taxpayers) by working to pass comprehensive transparency legislation. The Illinois Policy Institute, Americans for Prosperity Illinois, and For the Good of Illinois have been local champions- seek them out, and get it done.

For non-elected officials: Look here for ideas on how you can help the Sunshine Review Open Government project, and keep your politicians’ feet to the fire. Fighting corruption should be up to every citizen, not just the US Attorney.

Union sues to stop Education Action Group’s FOIA request

The Michigan education unions have a terrible problem. You see, education unions prefer to operate in the dark, with no real oversight, and no actual transparency or accountability to the taxpayers they rely on for jobs. It’s kind of one of those deals that if everyone gets paid, nobody gets hurt.

The folks involved in the Education Action Group (EAG) think it’s high time to turn the lights on to see how tax dollars are spent in schools, how funds might be maximized, and to bring it all out in the open- teacher pay vs. union negotiator pay, contract negotiations, benefits agreements, political plays by unions… all of that juicy stuff. They’ve caused quite a scuffle, which is a good thing if you pay into the Michigan school system.

Recently, EAG filed a FOIA to obtain emails from Wayne-Westland Education Association president Nancy Strachan’s taxpayer-funded e-mail account. EAG is curious to find out the role the union is playing in a recall election of a couple of school board members that aren’t giving the union all they want, and also information on a recent illegal strike. Today, the Michigan Education Association filed a lawsuit against the school district to stop them from releasing the emails.

Filing a lawsuit to stop transparency? So predictable. Opening up school spending to parents, vendors, watchdog groups, and taxpayers? Now that’s the (high) road less traveled. Michigan Education Association, I suggest you look here for ideas.

To find out how to file Freedom of Information Requests (and really, all things FOIA), go to the WikiFOIA portal on Sunshine Review.