Open Book

Posted October 24th, 2007 at 03:45 AM by IlliniPundit
in

Kudos to Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes for this new site:

Comptroller Dan Hynes today unveiled a user-friendly website that allows citizens to track political contributions made by companies that have state contracts.

“Open Book” is a searchable database of state contracts and campaign contributions that combines information from the Comptroller’s accounting system with official semi-annual campaign disclosure reports filed by political committees with the State Board of Elections (SBE).

“The purpose of Open Book is to make it much easier for the public to ‘follow the money,’” said Hynes. “That should make public officials more accountable to the people they serve. In turn, it is my hope that some measure of the public confidence in state government that has been lost over the years can be restored.”

Blog authors and commenters will hopefully do some digging on there.

(Hat tip:  CapFax)

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Kevin Sandefur's picture
On October 24th, 2007 at 08:40 AM, Kevin Sandefur said:

Why isn't this man our governor?

(Full disclosure:  I was his Champaign County coordinator when he ran for U.S. Senate.)

IlliniPundit's picture
On October 24th, 2007 at 08:50 AM, IlliniPundit said:

"Why isn't this man our governor?"

Because Mike Frerichs supported Rod Blagojevich in the 2002 Primary?

;-)

Kevin Sandefur's picture
On October 24th, 2007 at 09:58 AM, Kevin Sandefur said:

"Because Mike Frerichs supported Rod Blagojevich in the 2002 Primary?"

As did the Illinois AFL-CIO.  (Live and learn.)  Dan was running for re-election as Comptroller that year.

There were a number of us who wanted him to challenge Rod in the 2006 primary, but it takes a superhuman commitment to take on your own party's incumbent.  As it turned out, Dan's wife (an amazing woman in her own right) ended up delivering twins just before the November election.

I guess there's always 2010.  Unless, of course, Dan gets appointed to the U.S. Senate after Obama becomes President...

IlliniPundit's picture
On October 24th, 2007 at 10:19 AM, IlliniPundit said:

My theory has always been that Blagojevich would appoint Lisa Madigan to the US Senate seat, just to get her out of the way, but since Obama's campaign seems to have peaked on the day he announced last February, I don't think such things will become necessary.

:-)

On October 24th, 2007 at 11:59 AM, Run4cvrlib said:

Yeah Kevin like you wouldn't want to disclose that. :-) I guess it's good that he lost so he is our Comptroller, so good job.

Kevin Sandefur's picture
On October 25th, 2007 at 08:18 AM, Kevin Sandefur said:

"since Obama's campaign seems to have peaked on the day he announced last February"

Unlike Hillary's, which peaked ten years ago.  (double smiley)

"I guess it's good that he lost so he is our Comptroller, so good job."

Thanks.  We aim to please, but I know I can always count on you to find the silver lining...