Comments on: Change the law http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/ A Movement to Lift the Lid on Pennsylvania Government Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:57:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: terih http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-8 terih Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:43:52 +0000 http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-8 In response to the comment by Leslie Graves, I agree that it would be a useful exercise to try to track the various agencies' handling of right to know requests. In our experience at the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, however, many agencies take the position that these records are not "public records" because they are not "accounts, vouchers or contracts" or "minutes, orders or decisions" of the agencies (which is how our current law defines what is public). Along the same lines, however, we have started to gather information on how much agencies are spending in denying access to records, including legal fees they have incurred. In response to the comment by Leslie Graves, I agree that it would be a useful exercise to try to track the various agencies’ handling of right to know requests. In our experience at the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, however, many agencies take the position that these records are not “public records” because they are not “accounts, vouchers or contracts” or “minutes, orders or decisions” of the agencies (which is how our current law defines what is public). Along the same lines, however, we have started to gather information on how much agencies are spending in denying access to records, including legal fees they have incurred.

]]> By: bobguzzardi http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-6 bobguzzardi Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:27:24 +0000 http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-6 I am also surprised that Sen Pileggi says that this is not a priority with his constituents. I think that Young Republicans of Chester County are on board and there is no one that thinks it is a bad idea for citizens to have access to government records. I am also surprised that Sen Pileggi says that this is not a priority with his constituents. I think that Young Republicans of Chester County are on board and there is no one that thinks it is a bad idea for citizens to have access to government records.

]]> By: bobguzzardi http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-5 bobguzzardi Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:25:29 +0000 http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-5 Sen Pileggi introduced Open Records legislation without the presumption that government record is a public record even though those records are paid for by the public to track expenditures of public money for public purposes and are kept for the benefit of the public, not the government. If this is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, then the people have to have access to records of government spending and other activities. This is not expensive and government agencies can be proactive by putting income and expense on the net. Listing no bid contracts with payees. Posting the check register of all payments with categories so we can tell how money is spent. Follow the money and a citizen will learn a lot about government operation. bob Sen Pileggi introduced Open Records legislation without the presumption that government record is a public record even though those records are paid for by the public to track expenditures of public money for public purposes and are kept for the benefit of the public, not the government. If this is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, then the people have to have access to records of government spending and other activities.

This is not expensive and government agencies can be proactive by putting income and expense on the net. Listing no bid contracts with payees. Posting the check register of all payments with categories so we can tell how money is spent. Follow the money and a citizen will learn a lot about government operation.

bob

]]> By: Leslie Graves http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-4 Leslie Graves Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:01:53 +0000 http://PassOpenRecords.Org/2007/04/30/change-the-law/#comment-4 Depending on your time frame and the resources at your disposal, one way to get to know people who have been stonewalled in their attempts to gain access to public records is to FOIA some agencies for the FOIAs they've received in the last year or so--that's assuming that the name of the requestor isn't redacted. Depending on your time frame and the resources at your disposal, one way to get to know people who have been stonewalled in their attempts to gain access to public records is to FOIA some agencies for the FOIAs they’ve received in the last year or so–that’s assuming that the name of the requestor isn’t redacted.

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