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First Amendment rights, open government essential to democracy

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:45-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Sept. 4, 2014 Defending the U.S. Constitution is popular these days, when it centers on gun rights, states’ rights or search and seizure protections. As we guard the principles of our nation’s founders, let’s not overlook the all-important First Amendment of the Constitution and its guarantee of free speech and free press, which, along with public access to government information, are crucial to our democracy. The non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has been fighting for these First Amendment liberties and the doctrine of open government since the foundation [...]

First Amendment rights, open government essential to democracyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:45-05:00

Texas Supreme Court voids order to identify blogger

FOIFT2014-09-04T13:21:18-05:00

By Chuck Lindell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 29, 2014 An Ohio company, seeking to sue a sharply critical blogger who wrote under a pseudonym, cannot use the Texas courts to discover the online author’s identity, a divided Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The 5-4 decision voided a Harris County district judge’s ruling that ordered Google Inc., which operated the blog’s online home, to disclose the blogger’s name and address so the company would know who to sue for defamation and business disparagement. To order such pre-lawsuit disclosures, however, a Texas court must first establish that the person targeted for a [...]

Texas Supreme Court voids order to identify bloggerFOIFT2014-09-04T13:21:18-05:00

City of San Antonio seeks AG opinion on releasing audio evidence in non-discrimination ordinance complaint

FOIFT2014-08-28T14:45:22-05:00

By Ryan Loyd Texas Public Radio Originally published Aug. 27, 2014 The city of San Antonio is seeking an opinion from the Texas attorney general's office on whether it must release sensitive audio files under the Public Information Act. The city contends that some of the documents relating to San Antonio’s first non-discrimination ordinance complaint are confidential. Matt Hileman, a transgender man, worked for AT&T as a third-party contract employee through RGP Consulting, a staffing agency for highly skilled workers. It was about the time the city council was debating the revised non-discrimination ordinance last September when Hileman overheard two of [...]

City of San Antonio seeks AG opinion on releasing audio evidence in non-discrimination ordinance complaintFOIFT2014-08-28T14:45:22-05:00

Local officials urge lawmakers to change Texas Public Information Act

FOIFT2014-08-27T20:30:49-05:00

Large commercial data requests are slowing down city secretaries and county clerks, who need to be exempt from some Texas Public Information Act requests, those officials told state lawmakers Wednesday. Comal County Clerk Joy Streater told the House Government Efficiency and Reform Committee that the Public Information Act, which dates to the early 1970s, was intended to let taxpayers know how their money is being spent and not for large businesses obtaining public information to profit from it. She said information maintained by county clerks, which includes divorce decrees and probate records, should be exempt from the act. "I feel that's [...]

Local officials urge lawmakers to change Texas Public Information ActFOIFT2014-08-27T20:30:49-05:00

Light of Day Project: Tarleton student service fee totals top $3.3 million

FOIFT2014-08-21T15:43:35-05:00

By Rachel Peoples Texan News Service Originally published Aug. 14, 2014 The average Tarleton student just finished paying around $1,400 in fees for the upcoming semester. Though students are used to shelling out hundreds of dollars each semester to pay for library fees, parking and the like, most probably don’t know where that money goes. Texan News Service decided to trace the trail and we started with the Student Service Fee, which, records show, took in some $3.3 million in 2013. We wanted to know where students’ money goes – not just the organization that spent it, but how and where [...]

Light of Day Project: Tarleton student service fee totals top $3.3 millionFOIFT2014-08-21T15:43:35-05:00

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