Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper |
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Senate Takes Important Step
Published April 2, 2009
The people of Alabama could be on their way to important win in the fight for open government.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported a state Senate committee approved legislation that would set a time limit on state agencies to respond to public records requests from citizens or the news media. Often, agencies file requests away, hoping to outlast the public in its attempt to shine a stronger light on government.
This legislation would force agencies to respond within 15 days. That seems more than reasonable, especially considering the information belongs to the public and anybody who wants to see it.
To often the news media and the general public are forced to confront wall after wall when wanting information. All government agencies – state, schools, police, fire, commissions, councils, road departments and so many others – must realize the information they control is not their information. Any attempt to dissuade or turn away any member of the public from public information should be seen as a slap in the face of each and every citizen in Alabama.
We are pleased the Senate’s Government Affairs Committee agrees, and we encourage the full Senate and the House to show the respect due the people of Alabama by passing this bill as quickly as possible.
But that’s not all.
We hope soon the Legislature will place the same time responsibilities on local government as this bill does on state agencies. While state information is important, it is becoming more and more difficult for the public to gather the information it wants from school boards, city councils and county commissions.
We believe it is time for the state to step in and put the people first once again.
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The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson
811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email
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