By MaryAnn McCabe, Illinois Opportunity Project Government Relations Specialist
On the heels of National Sunshine Week — an annual celebration of open government and the 1966 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — I have just one thing I want to make clear:
As taxpayers, you have no right to see the taxpayer-funded severance package deals of public officials, such as College of DuPage President Robert J. Breuder‘s $726,000 buyout or former Metra CEO Alex Clifford’s $442,000 severance before they are finalized.
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Sure, Breuder or Clifford could publicly discuss the severance packages. They could even disclose details of the proposed severance agreements to the media prior to finalization. But, let me be clear about this: public boards cannot be compelled by law to make these severance agreements public if they opt to use a confidentiality clause.
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Freshman State Representative Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) has introduced legislation, HB 303, to fix the state’s pro-insider, anti-taxpayer backroom deal making by the status quo. HB 303 forbids the use of confidentiality clauses in severance agreements made with taxpayer money. The bill increases government transparency and protects families in Illinois, many of whom are struggling under the ruling class policies of the past, against the misuse of their hard-earned tax dollars.
Rep. McDermed wants to ensure families have a seat at the table when their money is being spent by local boards. “If the working families of Illinois understand what public officials were using their money to fund, they might think differently about who represents them,” McDermed said. At the Illinois Opportunity Project, we support this effort.
Severance packages to public officials are paid for with our tax dollars. As it stands, we have no voice in the development of these backroom contracts. We have the right to know how much elected officials have ordered up in pay and benefits for out-going officers. In fact, taxpayers should have the opportunity to weigh in before the contract is finalized and they are on the hook for the cost of an insider deal.
And let us remember that it is our right —and our civic duty — to hold all of our leaders accountable.
