PIA

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

Legislative Update: 2017 session

2022-04-13T14:39:06-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN — Major open government proposals to enhance the public’s right to know failed to pass the Texas Legislature this year in a disappointing anti-transparency display during the final days of the session. Fortunately, open government advocates worked to block several bills that could have hindered the free flow of information. And, under resolutions approved by the House and Senate, lawmakers will study ways to improve the Texas Public Information Act before the 2019 session. The non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas joined the Texas Press Association, the Texas Association of Broadcasters and other groups and lawmakers [...]

Legislative Update: 2017 session2022-04-13T14:39:06-05:00

Shifting more state functions to non-profits raises transparency questions

2017-05-24T17:27:09-05:00

By Mike Ward Houston Chronicle Originally published May 23, 2017 AUSTIN - In February, when Land Commissioner George P. Bush testified before a Texas House subcommittee about the details of a private nonprofit organization's management of the treasured Alamo, he assured lawmakers and the public that their business would comply with transparency laws that allow the public to know what's going on. Weeks later, though, his own agency declined to make public meeting minutes and other operational details about the Alamo Endowment and the Alamo Complex Management Company. The reason: "The Endowment and the ACM are GLO contractors, not governmental entities," [...]

Shifting more state functions to non-profits raises transparency questions2017-05-24T17:27:09-05:00

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