MALDEF SUES TO ENFORCE TRANSPARENCY IN ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER'S APPOINTMENTS TO STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

MALDEF

Law requires Governor to report ethnic, gender and disability status of applicants and appointee

April 5, 2016

CHICAGO, IL - Late last week, MALDEF filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner asking the court to order the Governor to comply with the Illinois Gubernatorial Boards and Commissions Act ("the Act"). The Act requires Governor Rauner to publish information about the ethnicity, gender and disability status of applicants and appointees to state boards and commissions. The Governor was required to publish his first report on October 1, 2015, but failed to do so.

"Our nation long ago learned that sunshine serves representative democracy very well," stated Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel. "The state of Illinois should not take lightly the governor's failure to make available critical information about policymakers he has placed in positions of significant authority."

The plaintiff in the case, County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, said:

"Governor Rauner failed to disclose basic demographic information about people whom he appoints to state boards and commissions as required by law. This simple requirement brings much needed transparency to the process of vetting and selecting people to serve the State of Illinois. Governor Rauner can only be held accountable if he reports information that only he has and is required to provide."

The lawsuit filed last Friday seeks to ensure that Governor Rauner collects and releases the data required by the Act. The complaint in the lawsuit can be seen here.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America" MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.