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Texas Supreme Court justice: Open government ‘difficult, serious’ business

2013-12-09T19:10:02-06:00

Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Boyd said Monday his judicial perspective on open government comes from years spent on both sides of the issue and that public access laws can be too easily abused from either end. "The great challenge in this business is figuring out where to draw the line," said Boyd, who has worked in the Texas Attorney General's Office and as chief of staff for Gov. Rick Perry. In both offices, he said, he gained respect for the importance of government transparency. But he also spent years as an attorney in private practice representing clients who didn't want [...]

Texas Supreme Court justice: Open government ‘difficult, serious’ business2013-12-09T19:10:02-06:00

Suit alleges SAPD withheld puppy shooting records

2014-01-13T13:21:14-06:00

By Guillermo Contreras San Antonio Express-News Originally published Dec. 4, 2013 SAN ANTONIO — What happened during a San Antonio police raid at a Babcock Road apartment last spring in which two puppies were allegedly shot and killed? Only police know, and they refuse to release details, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the city and its police chief, William McManus. Patricia Taylor, a member of the grass-roots organization Texas Moms United to End the War on Drugs, filed a formal public records request for the police report a little more than a week after the May 10 incident. She received [...]

Suit alleges SAPD withheld puppy shooting records2014-01-13T13:21:14-06:00

Victoria Advocate: Calhoun County delay tactics show sunshine laws need more teeth

2013-12-02T15:04:21-06:00

Victoria Advocate Editorial Board Originally published Nov. 30, 2013 Calhoun County's fight to keep public information away from the public is revealing in many ways. First, we're reminded yet again that government needs to be watched. These county commissioners and the Calhoun County district attorney aren't bad people by nature, but many public officials have an alarming tendency to forget they serve the public. Next, the Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act need to be zealously guarded and enhanced. Only because of these laws do Calhoun taxpayers know their elected officials entered into a secret settlement with a former [...]

Victoria Advocate: Calhoun County delay tactics show sunshine laws need more teeth2013-12-02T15:04:21-06:00

Longview News-Journal: Online access gives Texans needed look at government

2014-01-13T13:23:01-06:00

Longview News-Journal Editorial Originally published Nov. 26, 2013   The Texas Public Information Act is clear about who gets access to government documents: You do, with a few exceptions. But just because our state has a strong open records law doesn’t always mean it’s easy to get your hands on the records you need to find out what your government is doing, how it’s spending your money, and who it’s doing business with. As anyone who has tried it knows, too many of our governmental agencies seem to work the law to make getting information difficult and time consuming. Their idea [...]

Longview News-Journal: Online access gives Texans needed look at government2014-01-13T13:23:01-06:00

Abbott Suggests New Privacy Laws

2013-11-21T21:46:51-06:00

By Alexa Ura Texas Tribune Originally published Nov 21, 2013 Attorney General Greg Abbott's support for more stringent privacy laws is getting some notice, as privacy rights activists say his proposals would lead to more protections for Texans. But concerns tied to the enforcement of the proposed policies are also being raised.   The Republican gubernatorial candidate has recommended requiring state agencies that collect personal information to acquire individual consent before selling or releasing any data, and he has proposed granting individuals property rights over their DNA information. Deborah Peel, founder and chairwoman of Patient Privacy Rights, said Abbott’s proposals would give residents unprecedented [...]

Abbott Suggests New Privacy Laws2013-11-21T21:46:51-06:00

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