Texas Legislature

“Transparency is good, even if not always useful”

2013-08-15T22:57:01-05:00

By MIKE NORMAN [email protected] Originally posted Thursday, Feb. 07, 2013 There was irony all over the place just outside the Senate Chamber in Austin Thursday as some top state leaders announced proposed legislation to force greater transparency in Texas local government finances. The Legislature is not always the most transparent government body, nor are many of its members averse to hiding what they don’t want known. Take this from House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie: “When we write the budget each session, we require transparency and access to information,” a news release about the announcement quoted Pitts as saying. Pitts [...]

“Transparency is good, even if not always useful”2013-08-15T22:57:01-05:00

Texas Lawmakers Pledge Support of Open Government

2013-09-16T12:15:23-05:00

AUSTIN, FEBRUARY 15 – Nearly 20 percent of elected state officials voluntarily signed a Texas Open Government Pledge, which is a promise to uphold the letter and spirit of the state’s open government laws. “We applaud these lawmakers for demonstrating their commitment to ensure the public’s right to know,” said Keith Elkins, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (FOIFT). “As far as I know,” Elkins added, “this is the first time Texas legislators have been provided an opportunity to sign this pledge and we expect this list to grow.” So far, 34 of the 181 members of the [...]

Texas Lawmakers Pledge Support of Open Government2013-09-16T12:15:23-05:00

Freedom of Information Foundation Announces James Madison Award Winners At Annual John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon  

2013-09-03T00:08:40-05:00

Austin, Texas, August 21, 2009 — After more than a decade of efforts involving Texas’ leading journalists, attorneys and other public interest groups, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, D-Harris County, and State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Nueces County and surrounding counties, joined forces to get the state’s first “Free Flow of Information Act” passed during this year’s legislative session. Their efforts garnered the two elected officials the James Madison Award, the highest accolade from The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas at their annual John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon, held recently (August 21, 2009) in Austin. H.B. 670, the “Free Flow of Information [...]

Freedom of Information Foundation Announces James Madison Award Winners At Annual John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon  2013-09-03T00:08:40-05:00

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