Transparency

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in Congress

2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

By Josh Hicks Washington Post Originally published Dec. 16, 2014 Nothing comes easy for the current Congress, which has already left its mark as one of the least productive in U.S. history. The Fighting 113th has agreed in principle on the need to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, a key government-transparency law that guarantees public access to federal records. But House leaders last week shrugged off an opportunity to schedule the Senate’s FOIA Improvement Act for a vote, despite bipartisan prodding from Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who sponsored similar House legislation. The House and Senate approved their [...]

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in Congress2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

Houston Chronicle: Greater Houston Partnership undermines good government by avoiding open records

2014-12-15T16:30:53-06:00

Houston Chronicle Opinion/Editorials Staff Originally published Dec. 12, 2014 The Texas Public Information Act was one of the Texas Legislature's grand achievements under the reform-oriented first term of Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby. So it is with an ironic twist that the Greater Houston Partnership, chaired by the former lieutenant governor's son, has spent the past several years trying to avoid key components of that very law. The fight dates back to 2007, when Montgomery County resident Jim Jenkins filed an open records request to see how taxpayer funds were being spent at Houston's supersized business development organization. Transparency is necessary for [...]

Houston Chronicle: Greater Houston Partnership undermines good government by avoiding open records2014-12-15T16:30:53-06:00

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Reveal the drug supplier for executions

2014-12-15T16:23:00-06:00

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Opinion/Editorials Staff Originally published Dec. 12, 2014 When the state administers its ultimate punishment, the death penalty, the process ought to be as transparent as possible. That includes knowing the type of drugs used in lethal injections, and which pharmaceutical companies supply them to the state. Until last year, the suppliers’ names were known, and Attorney General Greg Abbott consistently ruled that such information had to be revealed under the public’s right to know. After several pharmaceutical companies, mainly in Europe, halted their sales of drugs for executions, Texas and other states turned to compounding pharmacies to supply [...]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Reveal the drug supplier for executions2014-12-15T16:23:00-06:00

UT-Austin attempts to keep secret Garcia Marquez archive cost

2014-12-11T16:08:53-06:00

By Jim Vertuno Associated Press Originally published Dec. 10, 2014 The University of Texas on Wednesday refused to release the contract and purchase price for the archive of Colombian novelist and Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and said it will ask the state attorney general for permission to keep those details secret. The university previously has disclosed the prices of such purchases - which can often push into millions of dollars - and the effort to keep the cost of the Garcia Marquez archive secret is likely to draw attention in literary and legal circles for its impact on future archive [...]

UT-Austin attempts to keep secret Garcia Marquez archive cost2014-12-11T16:08:53-06:00

Texans to fight to keep sales prices of land, homes and offices private

2014-12-08T14:18:11-06:00

By Jan Buchholz Austin Business Journal Originally published Dec. 1, 2014 A coalition of powerful business and real estate organizations are lining up to oppose any legislative attempt next year to require the mandatory disclosure of sales prices of Texas properties. Texas currently is one of about a dozen states that does not require mandatory sales price disclosure. Austin Business Journal reported about the hot topic two years ago before the last legislative session. The Texas Association of Business, North Texas chapter of NAIOP, Texas chapter of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Texas Association of Builders, Texas Self Storage Association, [...]

Texans to fight to keep sales prices of land, homes and offices private2014-12-08T14:18:11-06:00

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