Garland Police keeping tight grip on documents two years after ISIS attack
By Todd Shepherd Washington Examiner Originally published Aug. 1, 2017 Police in Garland, Texas, are refusing to release documents that could show an FBI agent allowed a terrorist attack to go ahead in 2015, in order to avoid blowing his cover. Police are still saying key documents can't be shared because the investigation is still "pending," even though the police chief said just days after the attack that they did [...]
Winners of 2017 Texas Gavel Awards announced
State Bar of Texas For Immediate Release July 19, 2017 Contact: Amy Starnes Public Information Director, State Bar of Texas (800) 204-2222, ext. 1706, or (512) 427-1706 [email protected] AUSTIN — In-depth stories on potential abuse in Texas’ guardianship system and whether a border-spending surge resulted in arrests of “high-threat criminals” are among the winners of the 2017 Texas Gavel Awards. Journalists representing the Texas Observer, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and KXAN-TV [...]
Open government advocates now focusing on 2019
By John C. Moritz USA Today Network Originally published July 19, 2017 AUSTIN – When a former employee of the world’s largest aerospace corporation began asking about the specific terms of the company’s lease agreement for its operations in San Antonio, it set in motion a chain of events that would gut Texas’ open government laws. And bills to restore teeth to the law that requires state and local governments [...]
Sen. Kirk Watson to be keynote speaker at FOI Foundation conference Sept. 14
Mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept. 14, when the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference "Transparency = Real News" takes place at the Hilton Austin. Texas Sen. Kirk Watson, an ardent advocate for open government, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Other sessions at the daylong conference will focus on open government outcomes in the Texas Legislature; online access to court records; and use of public records for in-depth "real [...]
The Brownsville Herald: College president search done right
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 [...]
Nominate candidates for FOI Foundation’s James Madison Award
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas presents its James Madison Award each year to a champion of open government and the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. Do you know a worthy recipient? If so, make a nomination. The nomination deadline is Friday, June 30. Information and the nomination form can be found here, as well as a list of past winners. The award winner is [...]
Editorial: Abbott’s pen cut transparency like a sword
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 [...]
Abbott wields heavy veto pen; Public Information Act bill among those rejected
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 [...]
Odessa American sues Odessa City Council
By Corey Paul Odessa American Originally published June 7, 2017 The Odessa American filed a lawsuit against the Odessa City Council on Wednesday, accusing the elected officials of violating the state law that requires most public business be conducted in public. The lawsuit alleges multiple violations related to a May 9 meeting when the City Council met for about 56 minutes behind closed doors before voting to oust the head [...]
Lake Austin group sues city over open meetings
By Jo Clifton Austin Monitor Originally published June 6, 2017 A group of Lake Austin homeowners on Monday sued the city of Austin, claiming that the city’s notice concerning the zoning and waiver of environmental regulations on what is known as the Champion tract, was inadequate and therefore violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. According to the lawsuit filed by the Lake Austin Collective Inc., when City Council approved new [...]
Questions Raised About San Antonio Council’s Closed Door Decision
By Shelley D. Kofler Texas Public Radio Originally published June 2, 2017 Have City of San Antonio officials violated the Texas Open Meetings Act? That’s a question being raised after council members decided in a closed executive session to sue the state over its new sanctuary cities law, instead of voting on the decision in a public meeting. At least three city officials or their spokespersons say that last week [...]
Legislative Update: 2017 session
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 [...]
Shifting more state functions to non-profits raises transparency questions
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 [...]
Texas Senate gambit to restore ailing public records law fails as House rejects amendments
By J. David McSwane The Dallas Morning News Originally published May 18, 2017 AUSTIN – Hopes of strengthening the Texas public records law, weakened in recent years by court rulings and attorney general opinions, were dashed Thursday as Republican House Speaker Joe Straus rejected a Senate maneuver to salvage bills that were dying in his chamber. Last week, the Senate approved a half dozen amendments to a somewhat related House bill – including a measure [...]
Texas House members have chance to save open government
By Kelley Shannon Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Keeping our Texas Public Information Act operating effectively takes effort. That’s why open government advocates have worked with public officials and businesses over the past year to fine tune the landmark state law. Transparency legislation resulting from these work sessions emerged out of frank discussions – and with an understanding that some compromise is necessary. Now, state lawmakers have the opportunity [...]
Texas Senate approves open government measures, sends them to House
After several major open government measures stalled in the House Government Transparency and Operation Committee a few days ago, the Texas Senate breathed new life into the legislation Thursday by adding the bills onto a Texas Public Information Act proposal. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, amended House Bill 2328 by Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, on the Senate floor. Included in the amendments were issues contained in legislation by Watson, Rep. [...]
San Antonio Express-News: Lawmakers should let in sunshine
San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board Originally published May 7, 2017 Make no mistake: If state lawmakers leave a number of open government bills hanging this session, the public will be left in the dark. A number of promising bills to make government more accountable and open to the public have been filed, but they were all, as of this writing, pending in committee. The legislation addresses any number of tricks [...]
Guest column: Tell legislators openness needed in government
By Donnis Baggett Published in the Houston Chronicle Originally published April 28, 2017 There's no question Texans are suspicious of government. That's why virtually everyone who ran for the Legislature last year sang the patriotic song of transparency. Unfortunately, campaign season is now a distant memory. Lawmakers have spent four months in the company of lobbyists who are good at convincing legislators that the interests of their clients are more [...]
Numerous transparency bills get hearing at Texas Capitol
Major bills at the center of the FOI Foundation of Texas open government agenda had hearings Monday in the House Government Transparency and Operations Committee, including proposals to restore public access cut off by two Texas Supreme Court rulings. "We have the right to know how much was spent, and we have the right to look at those contracts," said Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, as he described House Bill 792, [...]
Police withheld records of their son’s death; now they know why
By Eric Dexheimer Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 20, 2017 Kathy and Robert Dyer received the phone call out of every parent’s nightmares at 3 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2013. A Mesquite police officer was telling them their 18-year-old son, Graham, was in the hospital with a serious head injury. They should come as quickly as possible. They sped in the dark south to Dallas from their home on a [...]