Governor Quinn and Representative John Bradley have claimed the proposed fracking regulations involved a long public process. In fact, it involved the preferred legislative method of the General Assembly: a series of private negotiations among lobbyists for competing interest groups. The proposed regulations had their first public hearing in the legislature last week, and Governor Quinn is urging swift action.
But, I'll take them at their word about this being a long public process. If that's the case, then negotiations should be subject to a Freedom of Information Act request, which I just filed with the lead parties involved: Governor Quinn, Attorney General Madigan, and Representative Bradley.
Governor Quinn, Representative Bradley and others have spoken about a series of negotiations over fracking regulation in Illinois which included legislators and representatives of the fracking industry. They have also stated this has been a lengthy "public process." If the process has been public, then presumably it was done in compliance with the open meetings act. This is a Freedom of Information Act request for the meeting minutes and copies of public meeting notices for all negotiating sessions with industry representatives related to proposed fracking rules.
Thank you.
I'll post an update when I get a response but don't hold your breath. Most General Assembly members will see the way the regulatory bill was negotiated as standard operating procedure. But, something that may have disastrous long-term impacts on Illinois residents deserves extra time for scientific analysis and public participation before the bill is rushed through, barely a week after being introduced.