At the state Capitol, the FOI Foundation of Texas supports bills promoting transparency in government and protecting the rights of free speech and free press. The foundation’s staff and volunteers advocate for legislation that strengthens the Texas Public Information Act, the Texas Open Meetings Act and other state laws. Here are updates about transparency efforts in recent Texas legislative sessions.
Internal GLO draft audit slams unusual use of non-profits to manage Alamo
By Jonathan Tilove Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 8, 2018 On Dec. 5, the state Senate Finance Committee questioned Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the agency’s general counsel, Jeff Gordon, about the three nonprofits the General Land Office had set up to manage, promote and raise money for the Alamo — each with its own mission but with identical boards made up of [...]
Dallas Morning News editorial: Paxton’s misinformed spokesman turns Public Information Act against Texans over petty grudge
The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published Feb. 2, 2018 At a conference put on last month by the attorney general's office to help train local and state officials on how to comply with the Texas Public Information Act, one of the experts providing advice was Marc Rylander. Rylander works for Attorney General Ken Paxton and in comments caught on video he managed to [...]
Texas senators examine free speech on college campuses
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 31, 2018 SAN MARCOS —Incidents of hecklers shouting down controversial figures on college campuses are anathema to free speech but pose a difficult challenge to overcome, a state Senate panel chairwoman said Wednesday.“No one should be shouted down,” said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, whose State Affairs Committee held a hearing on campus free speech issues [...]
Alamo Trust to hold open meetings in wake of transparency concerns
By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Jan. 15, 2018 A nonprofit board overseeing the Alamo’s day-to-day operations will open its meetings to the public this year. But one state senator says state officials and philanthropists in charge of the historic mission and battle site and a far-reaching plan to improve it should do more to provide a level of openness befitting the [...]
George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparency
By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Dec. 5, 2018 State legislators quizzed Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the Alamo and a long-range master plan, and asked him to look for ways to provide more transparency in the management of the historic mission and battle site. “We need to get it more simple, and clearer,” Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said [...]
FOI Column: Boeing ruling stretched, twisted to keep government records secret
By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas Every week, government officials across Texas and private companies receiving taxpayer dollars get increasingly creative in hiding public records. Their new tool is the Boeing ruling, a decision from the Texas Supreme Court that lowered the threshold for arguing competitive bidding as an exemption from disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. It gives governments [...]