Following the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal, lawmakers want to strip state-related institutions’ exemption from Pennsylvania’s right-to-know law. State Representative Eugene DePasquale announced that he would introduce legislation making state-related institutions subject to the Act 3 of the law which requires all records of state and municipal governmental agencies to be open to public access, including financial documents, contracts and emails from university officials. State lawmakers and open government advocates said the legislation would increase transparency for institutions that receive taxpayer funds. However, in 2007, Penn State officials opposed the right-to-know law because of fear that it would result in less revenue from donors and private companies. Terry Mutchler, executive director of the Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records matains that the law should be enforced, arguing, “anytime you have an entity that receives state dollars, there should be transparency.”‘ For Caleb Taylor’s take, read his post on Statehouse News Online.
CaroMont Health’s board of directors violated North Carolina’s open meeting law Monday when it voted behind closed doors to hire a new chief executive officer. North Carolina’s open meetings law states that a public body with final authority can’t hire or fire in a closed meeting, according to attorney Amanda Martin, general counsel for the N.C. Press Association. As Gaston County hospital is a public institution, the board is considered to be a public body. Micky Price, Gaston County commissioner and CaroMonth board member points out, “Though a body can discuss and consider a new hire in closed session, the vote itself must take place in an open session,” For the whole store, check out Regan Robinson’s post on The Gaston Gazette.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has hired private legal counsel to represent Dane County county district attorney Ismael Ozanne being sued for allegedly violating a state open government law — a move made necessary because the DA has sued the state for allegedly violating another open government statute. Ozanne requested an outside attorney to represent him in a lawsuit filed by the Michigan-based Education Action Group Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for changes in public schools. The group is suing him over his failure to promptly provide records of his communications regarding three lawsuits challenging Walker’s budget repair bill, which stripped most public employees of most collective bargaining rights. For Bill Lueders’ take, check out his post on Wisconsin Watchdog.
As part of South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard’s Better Government Initiative, an improved South Dakota homepage was launched last week. The website now includes search engine functionality that provides easy access to all state government information and services, allowing users to simply type in a keyword or phrase rather than clicking several times to locate a specific topic. Moreover, is a step toward a more open process as it include direct access to government records and contract information through Open SD. It can also be used to track open meetings. For the story, see Bob Mercer’s post on Pure Pierre Poltiics.
Today I want to spotlight Triad Watch's great post on Greensboro, NC new policy on emails that are sent from City Council members.
On March 19, 2010 Greensboro City Manager Rashad Young sent out a memo to the Greensboro City Council members in regards to e mail accounts and how business is done with the local politicians. Here is what was in the memo .
"Council Personal Emails
Recently Council has received multiple request for city related emails that are from Council's personal email accounts. We have created an email account named Council_Public Emails. This account was created for your convenience. If you choose to use your personal email account, please forward city business related emails to this address: CPE@greensboro-nc.gov "
This is great news to see the City Manager take this step in more transparency in local government. It seems like this move was in regards to request from Kotis Propereties to get emails and text messages from Greensboro City Council members because as we have seen in the past where City Council Member Robbie Perkins was text messaging his developer side kick from the council chambers while the council meeting was going on.. We also had Greensboro City Council member Trudy Wade bust out on Greensboro City Council member Zack Matheny for text messaging Ex City Council Member Tom Phillips during a council meeting so that Zack Matheny can get his marching orders from Tom Phillips.These are just a few examples of what is going on locally but need to be more transparent.
It will be interesting to see just how many Greensboro City Council members comply with this new program and if they will start forwarding all city business from their personal accounts to this new e mail. Time for a weekly or monthly access to this email to see who is complying with this memo from the city manager.
Annapolis Politics written by Brian Gill covers about Annapolis and surrounding areas. Whether it's live blogging city council meetings or offering budget solutions Annapolis Politics is a great place to find information about the local government. I really liked his work highlighting shady elected official business and one of my favorites posts explaining campaign finance information.
Fighting 29th is a blog that focuses on the activities of its representative Eric Massa. Written by Rottenchester who also maintains Congressdb, which you can use to compare congressional votes. One of my favorite posts is the one that Rep. Massa voting against Time Warner even though they are one of his major donors. Another greatseries of posts was about the previous occupier of district 29th's seat, former Rep. Kuhl and they were highlighting how difficult it was to find out how much congressional travel to other countries costs. This blog is a great example of how to really follow your member of Congress.
South Texas Chisme is "a collection south Texas political gossip". I like reading it because you can find a wide variety of different information not the least of which transparency related. I have highlighted posts about personal financial disclosures and campaign finance reports. It is very neat to be able to stop at one blog and see what is going on in a whole region. I hope people see my local sunlight's that way too. A snapshot of transparency in the local level.
Triad Watch is keeping an eye out on North Carolina, by doing research and keeping an eye out on what is going on on the local level. Like this post about local developers giving free rides to local elected officials to Washington, DC or posting the City of Greensboro's disbursements online to see what government money is working locally.
Triad Watch, from North Carolina, has great posts about the Mayor of Greensboro and the County Commissioner being offered free rides from North Carolina to Washington D.C. from a local developer. Triad Watch and another blog question how ethical this trip is. In response the trip was postponed when it was deemed to violate laws regarding gifts to elected officials.
Ed Cone writes today that local elected officials are flying to Washington D.C. to meet with our elected federal officials on securing federal money for a redevelopment project which the News & Record talked about CLICKHERE.
Here is the part of the post that needs to get a closer look and scrutiny, Ed Cone writes this,"The group will be flown to DC at no tax-payer expense by developer Roy Carroll, says Johnson." Here is the post CLICKHERE
We have a local developer in Roy Carroll who also has a local Political Action Committee call "North Carolinians for Leadership in Government " giving free airplane rides to local elected politicians in Mayor Johnson and Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston.
Is it ethical and or legal for a local developer who already got tax incentives from both the greensboro city council and guilford county commissioners flying local elected officials to Washington D.C. ?
How will Roy Carroll report this on his political action committee?
These are some of the questions that need to be answered or talked about.
This week I have highlights from Georgia, 
