Kimberly will probably post the entire article up here at some point but seeing as the vote is tomorrow I wanted to quote Rich Girard (from the article) regarding HB 646 and right to know.
If cases of abuse were really running rampant, we’d hear more than just the anecdotal evidence of some spectacular infraction. The fact is, nobody has quantified the number, seriousness or “cost” of the infractions. The other fact is, the government entities that have to be asked for public information are the ones who create the information and file it. How else are we to obtain but to ask? Frankly, it’s their job to provide the information and, as a taxpayer, I’ve already paid for that job to be done.
During one of the bills I witnessed before your committee, the sponsor said the number of Right to Know Requests in his town had gone down significantly since the town started putting the information on the its Web site. Perhaps these abuses would be reduced if more communities put technology to use instead of making the process difficult and expensive as the Salem School District, the city of Manchester, the Timberlane Regional School District and many others are doing.
I agree, and have made the point myself that if the legislature needs to do anything it is to encourage actions at the local level to make aquiring public documents easier and cheaper.
