|
Published: October 10, 2007 09:40 am
Open-records hearing good next step
The Tribune-Democrat
For years, the news media have been calling for changes in Pennsylvania’s open-records law.
Finally, the effort is gaining support in the Legislature, and both the House and Senate are expected to push through amendments this fall that would make more of your records available to you.
We appreciate the efforts of state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, who will convene a public hearing on this critical issue today in Uniontown.
Kasunic’s district includes a portion of Somerset County.
Presenters will include the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, the County Commissioners Association and state Rep. Tim Mahoney, a Lebanon County Democrat who has supported greater access to public records.
“We feel that the best government is open government,” Kasunic aide Will Dando said from Harrisburg. “That means full open records, full accountability – at all levels of government, not just state government.”
Amen.
Newspapers, along with the PNA and other organizations, have been ringing the bell of access.
We are pleased that Kasunic and other lawmakers are now open to considering changes in our outdated and restrictive law.
The problem with the law in Pennsylvania is that the presumption is that information is not public, and you must prove that you should have access to that information.
What supporters in the House and Senate are pushing for is a rewording of the law such that the assumption will be that a record or a document is available for public scru-tiny.
The burden would be on an agency to prove, somehow, that the information in the record should be protected.
It’s not a perfect solution to the archaic system we have now, but it would be a big step in the right direction.
“This is a very important piece of legislation and the General Assembly needs to make sure we hear the concerns of the public before finalizing a bill,” Kasunic said in a news release. “I am looking forward to the hearing and the testimony we will be presented with.”
We urge members of the general public to attend this hearing to learn more about the importance of open records, or to voice their support for legislative change.
And we urge lawmakers in our region to vote for measures that would enhance public access to information.
It’s truly time to move Pennsylvania out of the dark ages.
• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
|
|
 |
BOARD CERTIFIED EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS
BOARD CERTIFIED
EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS
Opportunities exist for four (4) Emergency Room Physicians (Bo...>MORE
Manager of Procurement and Warehousing
KDH DEFENSE SYSTEMS INC.
Has immediate opening for
Manager of Procurement
and Warehousing
...>MORE
ARBY’S NOW INTERVIEWING FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS!
ARBY’S NOW INTERVIEWING FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS! Flexible Sched. No exp. necessary. We will train. If you have experie...>MORE
Dietary Aide
DIETARY AIDE
$9/Hr. – Part-Time
Kitchen experience preferred. Apply within, Bethlen Home, 125 Kalassay Dr., Li...>MORE
LPNs/GPNs
LPNs/GPNs
We Pay For Boards!!
If you’re looking for a relationship with your patients while practi...>MORE
INTERMEDIA MARKETING POSITIONS
LOOKING TO EARN SOME EXTRA $$$?
Call InterMedi@ Marketing
Solutions. 1-800-520-4100...>MORE
Customer Service Reps
DON’T WAIT!
CALL US TODAY FOR A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
We have immediate openings for
Customer Ser...>MORE
BOARD CERTIFIED OFF-TOUR INPATIENT HOSPITALISTS
BOARD CERTIFIED
OFF-TOUR INPATIENT HOSPITALISTS
Opportunities exist for (4) Hospitalists (Board Certi...>MORE
CAREGIVERS
ATTENTION CAREGIVERS
Hiring immediately for the Johnstown area. Various days and hours available, full and part tim...>MORE
ASSISTANT CONTROLLER
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF CAMBRIA COUNTY
Has the following positions available.
ASSISTANT CONTROLL...>MORE
See all ads |
1227 SOAP HOLLOW RD. Fri., 8-7; Sat. 8-3. Longaberger, Art, Craft, Scrapbook Supplies, Collectibles, Furniture, Baseball...>MORE
RICHLAND YARD SALE 8am-2pm, Saturday - Aug. 30th. 311 Kerr Drive. Kids clothes, toys, HH & more. Quality sale! Rain Date...>MORE
See all ads |
RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
Clean, ready to move into, 4 bedrooms - 2 up, 2 down, laundry room on main floor, 2 ...>MORE
RICHLAND TWP. & SALON
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
SUCCESSFUL BEAUTY SALON in Richland Twp. for sale. 1st flr. of 3 BR cape cod house, also at...>MORE
Walnut Grove
WALNUT GROVE
2 houses for sale,
3 BR rented $350/mo,
& a 2 BR vacant,
$37,500 for both.<...>MORE
See all ads |
LIBERTY TAX SERVICE
FREE TAX SCHOOL
Earn extra income after taking course.
Flexible Schedules.
Con...>MORE
2 TICKETS - Richmond Sprint Cup Race 9/06. Row 29. $90 each. Call 814-241-0899....>MORE
Discussion Group
$100 cash paid for participation in a 4-hour discussion group. LFK is seeking participants from Ca...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Discuss this story
