Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's administration is defending the transparency of its newly formed Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation. The not-for-profit will advise the state's economic development agency. One of Rauner's lawyers, Georgia Mann, says its bylaws make clear it will respond to open records requests.
"The corporation's chairman will make an annual report and that'll include disclosure any funds received by the corporation, public funds and private funds. So, according to their bylaws, this must be disclosed."
Mann also noted that the state agency is already subject to transparency laws. But the Citizen Advocacy Center says there's no way to enforce a corporation's bylaws. She says the public can't hold the non-profit accountable unless the legislature passes a new law requiring it.