Contact Information: Contact: Jill Farrell Judicial Watch 202-646-5188
Judicial Watch Files Open Records Lawsuit Against Illinois Governor and Illinois State Senate Over Pork Barrel Spending
| Source: Judicial Watch
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - July 31, 2008) - Judicial Watch, the public interest group
that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today
that it has filed open records lawsuits against Illinois Governor Rod
Blagojevich and the Illinois Senate and Illinois Senate President Emil
Jones over documents related to pork barrel spending in the State of
Illinois and "secret-side deals" made between Governor Blagojevich and
Illinois state lawmakers.
Judicial Watch submitted open records requests in conjunction with
Americans for Prosperity to the Illinois Senate and the office of Governor
Blagojevich on February 25, 2008, and March 20, 2008, respectively. In a
letter dated March 20, 2008, the Illinois Senate, citing "privacy
interests," indicated that no documents would be forthcoming, while the
governor's office failed to respond to the open records requests
altogether. In both lawsuits, Judicial Watch is asking the Circuit Court
of the 7th Judicial Circuit in Sangamon County, Illinois to force
compliance with Illinois open records law.
With respect to Judicial Watch's lawsuit against the Illinois Senate,
Judicial Watch is asking the court to, "Enjoin [the Illinois Senate] to
prepare, forthwith, an affidavit declaring that they have fully and
completely complied with Plaintiff's February 25, 2008 request and further
[declare] that any and all non-exempt public records responsive to the
request have been produced to [Judicial Watch]."
Judicial Watch and Americans for Prosperity launched an investigation of
public spending policies in the State of Illinois after multiple press
reports documented "secret side deals" between Governor Blagojevich and
Illinois lawmakers "for items ranging from police cars and tornado sirens
to millions of dollars for after-school programs..." (The Chicago Tribune
estimated these pork barrel projects cost Illinois taxpayers at least $70.8
million in 2006 alone.)
"[Judicial Watch and American Prosperity] are undertaking a detailed review
of public spending practices in Illinois, including member initiatives
and/or earmarked appropriations, about which substantial questions have
been raised," Judicial Watch wrote in its original open records request
filed with the Illinois Senate.
"Governor Blagojevich and Illinois Senate President Emil Jones need to come
clean now about any side deals they made to fund pork barrel projects,"
said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "Their attempts to stonewall the
release of these documents demonstrate a shocking lack of respect for both
Illinois taxpayers and the rule of law."
Copies of Judicial Watch's lawsuit and original open records requests are
available on Judicial Watch's Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org.