Vereb calls for jail time for Sunshine Act violators
NORRISTOWN — State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150th of Montgomery County) has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s Sunshine Act — even as far as calling for jail time for the most egregious offenders. News in recent weeks has revealed a troubling reality for some lawmakers — that the act has no teeth, giving way to disregard and even abuse by politicians. Read More…
Sunshine law accusations have tainted commissioners' reputations
NORRISTOWN — In the wake of the leak surrounding Montgomery County commissioners and alleged Sunshine law violations, as a year-end wrap-up, The Times Herald looks back at the outcomes such news has had on the public persona, and of the men in question. It all started from a tip, and the reporter from The Times Herald, who followed that tip, knew it would lead her right to Joe Hoeffel and Jim Matthews, the media’s now-dubbed “Breakfast Club.” Read More…
Opinion: Legislature should put teeth in the state Sunshine Act
A state audit concluded that 19 contracts awarded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board violated the open-meeting law. This is just one more indication that the law requiring the public's business to be conducted in public has no teeth.
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Concerns raised at meeting
HUNTINGDON - A citizens group contends that the Huntingdon Area School District has violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act over the proposed closing of two elementary schools. Read More…
Opinion: Stop this game playing
The relatively new Gaming Control Board is all too prone to the same old Harrisburg business-as-usual practices that make Pennsylvania the "State of Corruption." The board violated the state's Sunshine Act 19 times while approving 23 professional services contracts, worth $7 million-plus, without public votes from 2006-09, according to a new state audit. Read More…
Opinion: Wagner creates dicussion on state spending
Auditor General Jack Wagner is taking on charter school funding, the gaming control board contracting and the governor’s bond deals. In doing so he has managed to give much needed specifics to the broader conversation in our state about how we spend public funds and how some agencies may choose to do business. Read More…
Opinion: State must not gamble with public disclosure
December 19, 2010 Sunshine Act | Open meetings
Gambling advocates in the state administration and Legislature proclaimed before, during and after they created the state's casino industry, and again when expanding it to include table games, that Pennsylvania would have the most transparent and accountable gambling regulation of any state. Now, with the state government all in, the promises have turned out to be quite a bluff. Read More…
Opinion: State officials want gambling control board to open up
The state's gambling board has a penchant for secrecy, and Auditor General Jack Wagner and Treasurer Robert McCord want it to open up to the public. Read More…
Scheduled meeting not held due to possible Sunshine Act violation.
SUGAR NOTCH – Council cancelled a meeting Saturday night after one of the members said it violated the state Sunshine Act. The 6 p.m. session at the municipal building had not been advertised and was called to discuss the 2011 budget, said Councilman Mario Fiorucci. He said he objected to the special meeting and five other council members, the mayor, secretary and treasurer who showed up walked out.
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Rush Township appeals records ruling
Rush Township is appealing a ruling by the state's Office of Open Records that it must allow a former supervisor to review financial records from early 2007. Marion J. Lazur, a township resident who served on the board of supervisors from 2002 to 2007, turned to the Right to Know Law after the township refused to turn over bills and invoices from January, February and March 2007. Read More…
