'Champion of open government’ routinely fails to respond in time
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she is a champion of open government.
But a Springfield State Journal-Register analysis of more than two years of records requests received by Madigan’s office shows that the state’s highest law enforcement officer routinely answers requests for information later than the law allows.
Under the state Freedom of Information Act, public agencies have seven working days to respond to records requests. If requests are complicated or voluminous, agencies can give themselves seven-day extensions.
Between Jan. 1, 2006, and Feb. 13, 2008, Madigan’s office received 537 FOIA requests. According to her files, Madigan’s staff missed the deadline in 220 cases.
Madigan’s office says cracks in the system are being patched so that records requests are answered promptly.
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