| Thank you for responding to our calls to action over the last few weeks. As you know, this veto session included votes on important issues related to the public's right to obtain records and participate in their government. First, congratulations! The firestorm you helped start regarding SB 2799 kept a bad FOIA amendment from advancing out of the House Executive Committee. This defeat prevents a public body from forcing a FOIA requester to undergo expensive litigation to obtain public records and then providing those records to the requester prior to a court order as a way to circumvent an award of attorney's fees to the requester. And in other good news same day voter registration was made permanent. Unfortunately, the Illinois House and Senate voted to override the Governor's veto of HB 3796. The bill needed 36 votes to pass the Senate and received 39. However, the first time it received only one "NO" vote, and this time there were 13 "NO" votes. With your help, we moved the needle but not quite enough for us to win this fight for citizen watchdogs. Exempt from this bill are requests made by news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations for specific purposes. CAC will be in touch as these issues further evolve and develop. We will remain vigilant in protecting your right to be an informed member of the electorate. And we'll let you know when your voice and action is needed again. If you would like to thank those who voted "NO" and stood up for citizen watchdogs in Illinois, their names and a link to their contact information is in the column at the right. Thank you again for your civic participation, Maryam Judar Executive Director Community Lawyer | Related Links Chicago Tribune Editorial Daily Herald Editorial Northwest Herald Editorial Beachwood Reporter 5 minute video of HB3796 Senate Vote to Override Begins at 1:35:00 These IL Senators Voted "NO" Jason A. Barickman Jacqueline Y. Collins Thomas Cullerton Dan Duffy Darin M. LaHood Wm. Sam McCAnn Kyle McCarter Karen McConnaughay Sue Rezin Dale A. Righter Chapin Rose Steve Stadelman Dave Syverson Contact Information for Illinois Senators _____________ HB3796 Fact Sheet Find your Representatives Read HB 3796 |
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