Texas Sunshine Coalition

Lawmakers file bill to repair Texas Public Information Act, help citizens track spending

FOIFT2019-02-25T19:16:07-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 21, 2019 AUSTIN – Two Texas lawmakers filed bipartisan legislation Thursday to strengthen the state’s Public Information Act and give Texans the ability to once again track the spending of taxpayer money. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed Senate Bill 943 and House Bill 2189, respectively. The identical pieces of legislation address citizens’ access to information contained in and surrounding state and local government contracts. The proposal takes into account months of work by the diverse Texas Sunshine Coalition as well as the competitive concerns of businesses and non-profits that contract with the [...]

Lawmakers file bill to repair Texas Public Information Act, help citizens track spendingFOIFT2019-02-25T19:16:07-06:00

Texas Sunshine Coalition seeks greater transparency

FOIFT2019-01-10T00:25:48-06:00

By Ken MartinThe Austin BulldogOriginally published Jan. 7, 2019 During the 2019 legislative session, open government advocates have high hopes that this time they will be able to convince lawmakers to demolish the legal barriers created by court decisions that are preventing access to important public information. Among other things, these court decisions prevent finding out how taxpayers’ money is being spent. They also bar access to dates of birth needed, for example, to properly identify criminal suspects or allow lenders to perform the background checks needed for credit decisions. Another obstacle to be overcome through legislation is the refusal of [...]

Texas Sunshine Coalition seeks greater transparencyFOIFT2019-01-10T00:25:48-06:00

Taxpayers needs to know how money is spent, say advocates for closing hole in Texas open records law

FOIFT2018-12-27T19:55:38-06:00

By Robert T. GarrettThe Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published Dec. 27, 2018 AUSTIN — Open government advocates in Texas say a 3½-year-old court decision, probably unintentionally, has blown a growing hole in the state's transparency about how taxpayers' money is spent. Conservative and liberal think tanks, government watchdogs, consumer groups and industries that depend on robust access to public records, such as newspapers and broadcasters, have formed the Texas Sunshine Coalition. They want the Legislature next year to dial back secrecy that a 2015 Texas Supreme Court decision encouraged, but the fight will be heated. Read the full story here.

Taxpayers needs to know how money is spent, say advocates for closing hole in Texas open records lawFOIFT2018-12-27T19:55:38-06:00

Show us the money, let us see how tax dollars are spent

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:28-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas It’s quite simple, really. We Texans have a right to know how our taxpayer dollars are spent. It’s our money. We, the people, choose our government. Our elected public officials represent us. They manage and spend our tax money. But we, the people,get to decide whether they are doing it well. To do that, we need light shining on the workings of our government. But that essential element of our democracy is in jeopardy in Texas. Taxpayers are being denied information about government contracts with private companies and about tax [...]

Show us the money, let us see how tax dollars are spentFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:28-05:00

Why everyone should care about government transparency

FOIFT2018-10-16T22:49:22-05:00

Why Everyone Should Care About Government Transparency By Kathleen Stone Government transparency in the state of Texas is the big issue that no one is talking about. Or that’s how it seems to me, the public relations student who joined the FOI Foundation of Texas as the digital marketing intern roughly two months ago. I came aboard to revamp the Texas Sunshine Coalition website and lay out a new social media plan. Beyond a few journalism classes and a media law class, I really didn’t know that much about the issues surrounding government transparency. After spending some time studying the cases, I’ve [...]

Why everyone should care about government transparencyFOIFT2018-10-16T22:49:22-05:00

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