Sangamon Sun

For Illinois government, it is the worst of times and the surprisingly hopeful of times, at least according to the Better Government Association (BGA).

BGA President Andy Shaw recently highlighted the two very different plays taking place as the General Assembly enters its spring denouement. 

On center stage, of course, is the continued inability to come to an agreement on a balanced budget. The nearly two-year spectacle has provided plenty of casualties but little in the way of compromise.

“The second story, playing to kinder reviews in front of smaller crowds in the shadow of the main stage, is a feel-good tale about rank-and-file lawmakers, and several of their leaders, ignoring the craven budget fight and quietly moving the good government ball forward,” Shaw wrote on the BGA's website.

While 12 bills emerged this session that the BGA graded as bad for government transparency, Shaw applauded the fact that six are dead and the remaining six are being contested by reform groups. 

This session has also produced 22 bills that the group deems good for transparency, efficiency accountability and ethical concerns, and many of the bills are still alive. They include measures to streamline local units of government, increase reporting in economic interest statements and put automatic voter registration in place.

“Overall it’s unrealistic to expect the legislature to pass another 22 good government bills this session, but hopefully they’ll adopt most of the sensible measures and bury most of the ill-advised ones,” Shaw wrote. “If that’s how this show ends, lawmakers will have earned a round of applause for getting some important things done.”

Shaw said that although the less-known measures offer hope, the blockbuster deal is still about the budget, and unless lawmakers can produce something worthwhile, it could be curtains for Illinois' economy.