For the Good of Illinois Presented for the Good of Rotary

Everybody deserves to know where their tax dollars are going and how they are spent.

That’s the motivation of For the Good of Illinois, a watchdog group headed by Adam Andrzejewski, a former Republican candidate for governor and northern Illinois businessman. For the Good of Illinois has a goal of opening the books…in some cases, forcing open the books…to allow taxpayers a look at the line item budgets of every taxing body in Illinois.

One of the tougher nuts to crack turned out to be the State of Illinois. State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka initially said it would take too much time and expense to produce the information. After For the Good took the matter to court, Topinka relented. Andrzejewski said half of the information has now been turned over with the balance to be produced shortly.

Andrzejewski was the guest speaker at the Effingham Noon Rotary Club July 31. He said his organization has the records of 1,000 units of government online, but is pushing for more information. One goal is to have the pay and pension of every elected official in Illinois online.

Dave Ring served as Rotary weekly program chairman.

Also on hand were local supporters of For the Good of Illinois, Susan Petty and George Mette. Pictured left to right are George Mette, Susan Petty, Adam Andrzejewski, and Dave Ring.