Opinion: Records dichotomy
April 14, 2009
OPINION
[Greensburg] Tribune-Review
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.
Ms. Mutchler says some commonwealth agencies "are using the Right-to-Know law as a shield with which to block information rather than a tool with which to open records of government." She says Mr. Rendell's lawyers even have instructed agencies to not take her telephone calls, insisting that everything be in writing.
Indeed, it's the kind of delay and obfuscation tactics for which the Rendell administration is well known. Mutchler would serve the public best by taking the governor to court.
But Mutchler's office isn't exactly inspiring confidence in your right to know, either. It has ruled that the Northampton Area School Board acted properly in redacting dollar figures from a copy of a proposed budget requested by a newspaper. The office says the document "reflects pre-decisional deliberations" that are exempt from disclosure.
Tommyrot. It's the kind of gobbledygook the new law was supposed to eliminate. Taxpayers have every right to know what process a public body expending public dollars went through before being handed the final bill.
"Open records" means just that. Terry Mutchler and Ed Rendell could use a refresher course.
[Greensburg] Tribune-Review
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.
Ms. Mutchler says some commonwealth agencies "are using the Right-to-Know law as a shield with which to block information rather than a tool with which to open records of government." She says Mr. Rendell's lawyers even have instructed agencies to not take her telephone calls, insisting that everything be in writing.
Indeed, it's the kind of delay and obfuscation tactics for which the Rendell administration is well known. Mutchler would serve the public best by taking the governor to court.
But Mutchler's office isn't exactly inspiring confidence in your right to know, either. It has ruled that the Northampton Area School Board acted properly in redacting dollar figures from a copy of a proposed budget requested by a newspaper. The office says the document "reflects pre-decisional deliberations" that are exempt from disclosure.
Tommyrot. It's the kind of gobbledygook the new law was supposed to eliminate. Taxpayers have every right to know what process a public body expending public dollars went through before being handed the final bill.
"Open records" means just that. Terry Mutchler and Ed Rendell could use a refresher course.
