Texas Legislature

Texas news organizations cover legislative efforts to strengthen Public Information Act

FOIFT2017-01-05T15:41:22-06:00

On Tuesday, Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed legislation to strengthen the Texas Public Information Act and repair damage done by to the law two 2015 Texas Supreme Court rulings. News organizations around the state have written news stories and editorials on the legislative efforts. Here are some of the reports: The Dallas Morning News Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin American-Statesman McAllen Monitor Spectrum News, Austin KXAN-TV, Austin:

Texas news organizations cover legislative efforts to strengthen Public Information ActFOIFT2017-01-05T15:41:22-06:00

Open Government Champions: Hunter’s commitment to First Amendment, open government runs deep

FOIFT2016-12-29T15:49:07-06:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in an occasional series of opinion pieces on legislators and other Texans who are openly committed to sustaining government transparency and accountability. The articles are being prepared and distributed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association. By Dave Montgomery After 15 years in the Texas Legislature, Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi has distinguished himself as a relentless defender of press freedoms and government transparency, reflecting a passion rooted deep in his heritage. The son of a journalist, Hunter grew up in a family he says was “very strong on [...]

Open Government Champions: Hunter’s commitment to First Amendment, open government runs deepFOIFT2016-12-29T15:49:07-06:00

Texas Monthly: Texas has a transparency problem

FOIFT2016-12-08T13:03:06-06:00

By Leif Reigstad Texas Monthly Originally published Dec. 5, 2016 Texas received a grade of D- in the Center for Public Integrity‘s state rankings for accountability and transparency last November, including an F in the “public access to information” category. And the Lone Star State certainly didn’t do anything to improve its performance in 2016. This year state agencies have blocked public access to information regarding everything from small oddities to some of the most serious issues Texans have faced in 2016. The implications of such secrecy should resonate with all Texans: government agencies and their spokespeople sometimes don’t tell the public the entire truth (they are, after all, human), and [...]

Texas Monthly: Texas has a transparency problemFOIFT2016-12-08T13:03:06-06:00

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings Act

FOIFT2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

By Catherine Dominguez Houston Chronicle Originally published Oct. 24, 2016 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack is proposing a digital public message board that would allow the commissioners to communicate publicly outside a called meeting. While County Judge Craig Doyal said he sees some benefits, he said he isn't sure all the commissioners would use a digital message board. The court was scheduled to discuss the item at Tuesday's meeting. For Noack, it would help provide more transparency of county business. A quorum of commissioners discussing county business outside a publicly called meeting is prohibited by the Texas Open Meetings Act. In [...]

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings ActFOIFT2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

Reasons for Texas’ surge in pregnancy-related deaths cloaked in secrecy, bad data

FOIFT2016-09-28T18:39:42-05:00

By J. David McSwane and Terri Langford The Dallas Morning News Originally published Sept. 28, 2016 The rate of pregnancy-related deaths among Texas women nearly doubled in recent years, a national study found this month, while a separate state-commissioned study found black women are especially vulnerable. Researchers can't say why maternal death rates are higher in Texas than any other state, and the reasons are likely to remain hidden. That's because the data and records that could provide answers to the maternal death quandary are being kept secret by the Department of State Health Services, which has refused to disclose even [...]

Reasons for Texas’ surge in pregnancy-related deaths cloaked in secrecy, bad dataFOIFT2016-09-28T18:39:42-05:00

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