Open Public Records
Open Records Discussion on WHYY's Radio Times, October 31, 2007
Should Pennsylvania provide more access to its government records? That's the topic of an hour-long segment of Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane aired on WHYY Radio 91FM. Hear from John Sullivan, a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer about his difficulties with getting public documents, and from Barry Kaufman, executive director of Common Cause of Pennsylvania, on why he believes Pennsylvanians deserve better access to the inner-workings of its government. Also hear from Pennsylvania Rep. Babette Josephs.
"She Took on the Man and the People Won!"
Listen to radio interviews with Babette about Open Records
KDKA with Marty Griffin
Full report from the state capitol from Roseann Cadau
Read Babette's press releases about Open Records
Josephs applauds PennDOT secretary for agreeing to release bridge safety records to public, 8/8/07
PennDOT secretary refuses to testify before House State government Committee on public's right to know about bridges, 8/6/07
Josephs, State Gov't Committee to review PennDOT withholding of public information during open records hearing, 8/3/07
For a list of lawmakers who support modernizing the state's Open Records Law, go to www.passopenrecords.org.
Background Information
Rep. Babette Josephs, Majority Chair of the House State Government Committee, held a public hearing on the Right To Know Act on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm in Harrisburg.
The committee invited various stakeholders to discuss HB 443 (Mahoney) - An Act requiring certain records of the State and its political subdivisions, authorities abd agencies and other public bodies to be open for examination, inspection, etc., establishing the Office of Access to Public Records, etc., and making a repeal.
The hearing was held to assist the committee in evaluating proposed reforms to the open records law that would make information more readily available to citizens of the Commonwealth, while simultaneously protecting individual privacy rights. The open records issue is one of three issues that House leadership has identified as priority issues for the fall. The others are Property Tax Relief and Campaign Finance Reform. A list of the testifiers is provided below. Anyone is welcome to submit written testimony.
A brief on the open records law can be found here.
Click here to read an article on the issue written by Teri Henning, General Counsel, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
List of Testifiers
State Government Committee - Public Hearing
Open Records
August 7, 2007
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The Honorable Tim Mahoney, Member, House of Representatives
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Thomas A. Decker, Chair, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
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The Honorable Lynne Abraham, District Attorney, City of Philadelphia, Three South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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The Honorable John P. Capuzzi, Esq., Magisterial District Judge
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Amy Sturges, Director of Governmental Affairs, Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities
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Douglas E. Hill, Executive Director, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
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Timothy M. Allwein, Assistant Executive Director for Governmental and Member Relations, Pennsylvania School Boards Association
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Amy Guttman, President, University of Pennsylvania
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Graham Spanier, President, Pennsylvania State University
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Mark A. Nordenberg, Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
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Ann Weaver Hart, President, Temple University
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Dr. Stephen M. Curtis, President, Community College of Philadelphia
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Tim Williams, President, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
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William K. Marimow, Editor and Executive Vice President, Philadelphia Inquirer
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Susan Smith, Managing Editor, Pittsburgh Post Gazette