Austin American-Statesman
Originally published July 6, 2014
When it comes to defending Texans’ right to know what their government is doing, state Attorney General Greg Abbott has been not just a watchdog, but a biting dog.
During his political career, Abbott has demonstrated a commitment to government transparency second to no other current statewide elected official. In 2005, he was awarded the James Madison Award by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Abbott spoke these memorable words then: “Texas functions best when public officials recognize that government does not belong to them but to the people.”
(To read the rest of the editorial on Abbott’s “troubling” stance on public access to chemical location records, go to the Austin American-Statesman website.)