Terry Mutchler
Opinion: New state rules helping to open up records
December 20, 2009 |
Reporters across the state put Pennsylvania's
nearly year-old open records law to the test
recently in a fun but eye-opening project
spearheaded by The Associated Press. Read
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Open records funding boosted
December 09, 2009 |
Despite a belated state budget that included
numerous funding cuts, the state Office of Open
Records has been given a significant funding
increase. State Rep. Timothy S. Mahoney, D-South
Union Township, who spearheaded passage of the
new open records law that took effect on Jan. 1,
said the important office received a $240,000
increase in funding under the current budget,
boosting the office's allocation to $1.25
million. Read
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New Pa. records office running at hectic pace
November 29, 2009 |
Terry Mutchler, executive director of the state
Office of Open Records, has a quick response when
asked how things are going. " 'Busy' is the short
answer," Ms. Mutchler said last week. "We're just
overwhelmed."
Ms. Mutchler and her nine-member staff routinely work 12-hour days or longer to keep pace with a flood of paperwork.
To date, they have processed 1,006 appeals, conducted 300 training sessions around the state on the new Right-to-Know Law and fielded more than 5,000 e-mail and telephone inquiries. Read More...
Ms. Mutchler and her nine-member staff routinely work 12-hour days or longer to keep pace with a flood of paperwork.
To date, they have processed 1,006 appeals, conducted 300 training sessions around the state on the new Right-to-Know Law and fielded more than 5,000 e-mail and telephone inquiries. Read More...
State's records law hailed as step forward
November 29, 2009 |
Until this year, Pennsylvania's open-records law
had an abysmal reputation.
But on Jan. 1, a revised Right-to-Know Law took effect. Eleven days later, the state's newly created, independent Office of Open Records began refereeing its first dispute between the public and a government agency.
Now, Mr. Davis said, as the one-year anniversary approaches, Pennsylvania's open-records law "easily" ranks in the top third across the nation -- what he called a "signal improvement."
Read More...
But on Jan. 1, a revised Right-to-Know Law took effect. Eleven days later, the state's newly created, independent Office of Open Records began refereeing its first dispute between the public and a government agency.
Now, Mr. Davis said, as the one-year anniversary approaches, Pennsylvania's open-records law "easily" ranks in the top third across the nation -- what he called a "signal improvement."
Read More...
Opinion: Is it really all about safety?
July 31, 2009 |
It’s been a busy spring and summer defending
against a plethora of legislative proposals that
all reduce citizens’ access to information, from
‘shoppers’ bills that would steer controversial
legal notices to that junk mail at the foot of
your driveway, to Internet ‘advertising’ that
would give a leg up to somebody’s best buddy –
oops, pre-qualified bidder. Read
More...
OOR stays release of home addresses of public employees
July 30, 2009 |
The Office of Open Records will issue no final
determinations ordering the release of public
employee home addresses, pending resolution of a
petition made by the Pennsylvania State Education
Association by the Commonwealth Court .
Read
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Judge sides with school union in public-records case
July 29, 2009 |
The union representing most public school
employees in Pennsylvania yesterday won a
temporary injunction in Commonwealth Court to
shield the home addresses of all public-school
employees under the new open-records law.
Read
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Opinion: Budget cuts would gut commitment to open government
July 21, 2009 |
All is not well at Pennsylvania's new Office of
Open Records. Speaking as its first executive
director, I find that a difficult but necessary
truth to express. I am asking citizens and other
open-government advocates for help. We are at a
crossroads and citizens should have an accurate
and honest picture of what's happening with this
aspect of their government.
Read More...
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Bracing start for state's Office of Open Records
July 06, 2009 |
One irony about Pennsylvania's Office of Open
Records: It's weirdly difficult to find. The new
state agency charged with resolving disputes over
government transparency is at the end of a long
and dim hallway in a building across the street
from the Capitol. The only indication the office
exists is a small sign at the hallway's entrance.
Inside the Office of Open Records, however,
another irony: Sunlight streams through large
windows that take up most of one wall. It is hard
to imagine a more vivid metaphor for the
challenges facing the office and Terry Mutchler,
its first executive director. Read
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Open-records chief pleads for more money
June 30, 2009 |
The director of the state's Office of Open
Records is working to avoid what she contends
would be a chilling cut to her new office's
budget. Read
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Pennsylvania's open records law sets barriers
April 21, 2009 |
Pennsylvania's updated open records law was
supposed to start an era of transparency Jan. 1,
but it has raised troubling issues along the way.
Read
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Opinion: Sun still not shining in state Capitol
April 19, 2009 |
This was supposed to be a year of sunlight in
Harrisburg, with the new open-records law taking
effect and a state open-records czar and her
staff working to make sure citizens have access
to their government. But a funny thing has
happened in the Keystone state, leaving us
wondering whether there’s been any difference in
the same old, same old way of operating at the
state Capitol. Read
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Opinion: A foot in the door
April 18, 2009 |
Pennsylvania's new open-records law has been
anything but open since it took effect in
January. And the blame starts at the top.
Read
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Opinion: Records czar out of loop
April 14, 2009 |
Unfortunately, secrecy is standard operating
procedure in Pennsylvania government. It's a bad
habit that you can't quit just by signing a bill.
You have to go cold turkey and actually quit
being secretive. Read
More...
Opinion: Records dichotomy
April 14, 2009 |
The executive director of the Pennsylvania Office
of Open Records complains that the Rendell
administration is throwing up roadblocks to
greater transparency. But Terry Mutchler might
want to review her own office's record.
Read
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Opinion: Records law applies to all levels of government
April 13, 2009 |
At best, Gov. Rendell's insistence upon written
open records communications amounts to an
unnecessary increase in bureaucratic
inefficiency. At worst, it indicates heel-digging
resistance to a progressive new law signed by
Rendell himself. Read
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Pa.'s public-records czar faults Rendell on openness
April 10, 2009 |
HARRISBURG — The Rendell administration appears
to be going out of its way to block public access
to government documents. At least that is the
impression left on the state's new open-records
czar. Read
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Citizens are driving open government
March 18, 2009 |
A seismic shift in open government rocked the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at midnight on Jan.
1, 2009, and I am happy to report that the
Keystone State has not yet crumbled, or even
cracked, because of it. Read
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A lively first month for Pa. Open Records Office
January 31, 2009 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's fledgling
Office of Open Records, defender of the public's
interest in a transparent government, turns one
month old this weekend. Read
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Mutchler encourages activists on records law, with caveats
January 14, 2009 |
Terry Mutchler, executive director of the new
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, told
politicians, journalists and activists yesterday
the new open-records law affords them
unprecedented access to government documents. But
she said that access comes only if Pennsylvanians
demand their public officials obey the statute’s
spirit. Read
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City police reports an issue under open records law
January 10, 2009 |
Should you walk into York's City Hall and glimpse
a new sign that refers to the revamped
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, pay attention to
the wording that mentions the availability of
police records. Read
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Pa. open-records law takes effect today
January 01, 2009 |
HARRISBURG - As she crisscrossed the state during
the summer to train public officials in the
nuances of the state's new open-records law,
Terry Mutchler's message boiled down to a single,
defining guideline. Read
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II: Terry Mutchler: Right-to-know advocate and arbiter
December 23, 2008 |
In high school, Terry Mutchler's tenacity could be measured in broken field-hockey sticks, including the time she broke her wooden stick in the heat of a game and had to use one belonging to her coach. Read More...
Pa. open-records chief shows independent spirit
December 06, 2008 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Weeks before the state
Office of Open Records opens for
business, it's clear that office director Terry
Mutchler is not going to simply carry the water
for Gov. Ed Rendell — the man who appointed her
and is technically her boss. Read
More...
Agencies to charge for access to records
November 29, 2008 |
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
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