Nov 2008
2008 NEWS ON OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES | Oct 2008

Agencies to charge for access to records

November 29, 2008 | Filed in: New RTK Law | Office of Open Records | Terry Mutchler | Fees
Gov. Ed Rendell, who enacted the state's expanded open-records law with his signature, might be one of the first to violate it if state agencies follow a directive his office has issued. Read More...

On Jan. 1, a new day opens with public access to records

November 26, 2008 | Filed in: Office of Open Records | New RTK Law | Open records
Those municipalities and school districts that habitually make it difficult for citizens to obtain information about their taxpayer-supported enterprises face a day of reckoning on Jan. 1. That's when a new Right-to-Know Law takes effect, with this fundamental change: All records will be considered public documents unless specifically exempted. Read More...

Pennsylvania sets fee for copying public records

November 26, 2008 | Filed in: Office of Open Records | Open records | New RTK Law | Fees
HARRISBURG — People seeking most government records will soon pay no more than 25 cents a page under a new state policy. The fee system, set by the newly created Office of Open Records, will apply to all state agencies and municipal governments when the state's Right to Know Law takes effect Jan. 1. Read More...

Pa. record copies limited to a quarter a page

November 22, 2008 | Filed in: New RTK Law | Open records | Office of Open Records | Fees
HARRISBURG (AP) — Starting next year, citizens seeking copies of most public records in Pennsylvania won't be charged more than a quarter a page, under an order that the state's open-records chief plans to issue Monday.
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Open government, transparency are things we should all agree on

November 11, 2008 |
Open government and transparency are the types of issues that people from all areas of the political spectrum can unite behind and support. Because when a governmental body like the Radnor Township School Board makes a decision, as many of my great elementary school teachers from Radnor stressed to me when I was a student, it is critical that they show their work. Read More...

Closed budget briefing sparks Sunshine Act debate

November 06, 2008 | Filed in: Sunshine Act | Open meetings | Philadelphia
In a legal opinion over the state's Sunshine Act that has sparked some criticism, the City of Philadelphia Law Department has concluded that a quorum of City Council may meet with the mayor behind closed doors if city leaders don't establish policy or conduct debate that could lead to policy-making. Read More...

Inquirer, Daily News sue to open Nutter-Council talks

November 06, 2008 | Filed in: Sunshine Act | Open meetings | Philadelphia
The owner of The Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News sued Mayor Nutter and City Council President Anna C. Verna yesterday, alleging that reporters were illegally barred from a meeting at which the mayor discussed proposed budget cuts with Council members. Read More...

Sunshine Law allows for exchange of views

November 03, 2008 | Filed in: Sunshine Act | Open meetings | Philadelphia
Close to the heart of the democratic process is the role played by media. You can't have an informed citizenry without the free flow of information about government actions. But this media right to stand close by as policy is formulated and implemented is not absolute. Reporters can't sit next to government policymakers 24/7. Read More...

Opinion: Sunshine Act is clear

November 02, 2008 | Filed in: Sunshine Act | Open meetings | Philadelphia
It's no secret that our economy is hurting and that the city needs to address a budget shortfall. So, recently [Philadelphia] Mayor Nutter and City Council met to discuss the budget - in secret. That private meeting was no isolated incident. This was the third time this year that the public has been barred from city budget briefings.
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