PIA

Open government advocates now focusing on 2019

2017-07-20T14:48:36-05:00

By John C. Moritz USA Today Network Originally published July 19, 2017 AUSTIN – When a former employee of the world’s largest aerospace corporation began asking about the specific terms of the company’s lease agreement for its operations in San Antonio, it set in motion a chain of events that would gut Texas’ open government laws. And bills to restore teeth to the law that requires state and local governments to tell the public what they’re doing and why they’re doing it were blocked during the recent legislative session and likely won’t be revived until 2019. “This was a huge setback [...]

Open government advocates now focusing on 20192017-07-20T14:48:36-05:00

Sen. Kirk Watson to be keynote speaker at FOI Foundation conference Sept. 14

2017-07-25T23:14:59-05:00

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept. 14, when the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference "Transparency = Real News" takes place at the Hilton Austin. Texas Sen. Kirk Watson, an ardent advocate for open government, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Other sessions at the daylong conference will focus on open government outcomes in the Texas Legislature; online access to court records; and use of public records for in-depth "real news" reporting in this era of "fake news." At the John Henry Faulk Awards luncheon we also honor an open government and First Amendment champion with the James Madison Award and [...]

Sen. Kirk Watson to be keynote speaker at FOI Foundation conference Sept. 142017-07-25T23:14:59-05:00

The Brownsville Herald: College president search done right

2017-07-04T00:20:25-05:00

The Brownsville Herald Editorial Originally published July 2, 2017 We applaud Texas Southmost College trustees for their recent announcement of four finalists for the job of college president, and that they have scheduled public forums so that local residents can meet, and hear from, each of them. The TSC board is looking to fill the vacancy created last September when it dismissed Lily Tercero, who had served since 2011. Mike Shannon, the college’s vice president of student services, is serving as interim president. Board members have taken the right approach since their search for a president formally began earlier this year. [...]

The Brownsville Herald: College president search done right2017-07-04T00:20:25-05:00

Editorial: Abbott’s pen cut transparency like a sword

2017-06-16T21:44:51-05:00

Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial Originally published June 16, 2017 With the simple act of signing his name, Gov. Greg Abbott completed a trifecta of failure by all branches of state government to defend the people's right to know. Abbott was proud of himself Thursday for vetoing 50 bills that he claimed were government overreach. One of those was House Bill 2783, regrettably the only government transparency measure to survive the 85th Legislature. HB 2783, one of the more modest of the sunshine bills introduced this session, would have allowed plaintiffs who sue a government entity for withholding public information to collect attorney fees [...]

Editorial: Abbott’s pen cut transparency like a sword2017-06-16T21:44:51-05:00

Abbott wields heavy veto pen; Public Information Act bill among those rejected

2017-06-16T15:16:30-05:00

By Mike Ward and Peggy Fikac San Antonio Express-News Originally published June 15, 2017 AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto total for the year hit 50 on Thursday as his staff announced a final round of vetoes of bills approved during the recently completed legislative session, including five bills by state Rep. Lyle Larson. The governor even vetoed a bill that Larson had amended. “I think it’s a lack of maturity. They can’t separate policy and politics,” Larson, R-San Antonio, said Thursday. Larson said he believed the vetoes were retribution because he had pushed a measure that would have prevented a [...]

Abbott wields heavy veto pen; Public Information Act bill among those rejected2017-06-16T15:16:30-05:00

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