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Sunshine Week: Public should demand online access to public information

2014-03-19T14:42:15-05:00

By Emily Shaw Sunlight Foundation Originally published March 12, 2014, on sunshineweek.org This week is Sunshine Week, a nationwide discussion about the importance of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. During this week we pay special attention to our collective obligation to bring some “sunshine” to the often shadowy processes of government decision-making. Different governments have different ways of inhibiting effective oversight of government decision-making, from intentional stonewalling and secrecy to budget-driven decisions to reduce hours and staffing. These problems, while diverse, may have a similar solution: Public records and the content of public [...]

Sunshine Week: Public should demand online access to public information2014-03-19T14:42:15-05:00

Travis commissioner accused of deleting requested texts, emails

2014-03-18T14:37:45-05:00

By Farzad Mashhood and Ben Wear Austin American-Statesman Originally published March 17, 2014 An environmental group filed a criminal complaint Monday alleging Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty unlawfully deleted text messages and emails that concerned county business, including some communications about the controversial Texas 45 Southwest tollway project. The Save Our Springs Alliance asked Travis County Attorney David Escamilla to investigate the matter as a possible violation of open records laws. The group will also ask commissioners on Tuesday to delay action on an agreement that would commit Travis County to provide $15 million toward construction of the 3.6-mile road. Read [...]

Travis commissioner accused of deleting requested texts, emails2014-03-18T14:37:45-05:00

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalists

2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

By Jason Leopold Investigative Reporter Originally published March 7, 2014, on sunshineweek.org A few years ago, I met a longtime source at a local coffee shop in Los Angeles. He said he needed to break some news to me. I thought it was going to be something juicy. Perhaps he was ready to share some inside information about drones or surveillance or Guantanamo, topics that I report on. Nope. My source called the meeting to tell me he would no longer spill any secrets to me. He was very worried that the Obama administration’s crackdown on leaks and leakers could result [...]

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalists2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

Sunshine Week: Denton Record-Chronicle evaluates officeholders’ financial disclosures

2014-03-16T18:04:06-05:00

By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published March 15, 2014 Personal financial statements can offer clues to the financial interests of local officials and improve government transparency — that is, if more residents had a clue about how to find them. The little-known and rarely accessed statements contain potentially valuable disclosures from select public officials about their own property holdings, stocks and bonds, outside business interests or employment, even gifts granted to them during their public service. But an investigation by the Denton Record-Chronicle found that efforts to make the information public have fallen short, in part because the documents are [...]

Sunshine Week: Denton Record-Chronicle evaluates officeholders’ financial disclosures2014-03-16T18:04:06-05:00

Report, Texas lawmakers call on Obama for transparency

2014-03-11T17:19:57-05:00

By Daniel Lathrop The Dallas Morning News Originally published March 11, 2014 Following a nonpartisan study, Texas lawmakers from both political parties are calling on the Obama administration to provide the public with better access to information collected by the federal government. A report Monday by the liberal Center for Effective Government found that only four of the 15 federal agencies that receive the most requests for public information deserved a “B,” none deserved an “A” and most of the reset flunked. “The American people deserve openness and accountability from their government. The [group's] report reveals that the Obama Administration, despite [...]

Report, Texas lawmakers call on Obama for transparency2014-03-11T17:19:57-05:00

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