A funny thing happened on the way to better state government.
"An honest attempt at increased transparency" in the General Assembly included sweeping, and secretive, last-minute changes to the Open Meetings Act.
During the honest attempt, a Senate committee amendment was offered and passed in dark-room meetings just two or three days before the General Assembly session adjourned and the amended bill passed on the last day, April 11. As a matter of procedure, the General Assembly does not give the public a chance to review or comment on amendments. HB766, as amended, was signed by the governor and took effect June 1.
Alexandra Hughes, in the office of House Speaker Mike Busch, termed it "an honest attempt at increased transparency" during a phone interview in May.
HB 766, from Del. Heather Mizeur, proposed a joint legislative committee to "develop policies and advise the General Assembly on implementing those policies and improving transparency while working with existing entities, programs, and resources," according to the bill.
So far no one has been appointed to the transparency committee.
In the last days of the session, the Senate amended the bill so when it was signed, the Open Meetings Act was changed. The amendment has two flaws, according to Mark Caramanica, FOI Director at the Washington-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Instead of only changing what "minutes" of the General Assembly are, it applies a new concept to every public body large or small. By saying "a public body" instead of "the General Assembly," the meetings law was radically changed by an amendment with no clear sponsor, inserted at the last minute.
They represent the PUBLIC, as in "we, the people".... ALL of their meetings should be open to the people who elected them. Thats the biggest problem in the political arena --- once elected, these people seem to get a whole new attitude --- we are now smarter and better than you and don't need your "input" or advice. We ALSO don't need you hanging around. WE run things here and YOU (we, the people") are now nothing more than an irritating distraction. Unless you have brought a bribe (they call it a "campaign contribution") you have no business here. From the smallest local goverment to the very top, THIS is the attitude of our "rulers". Look at the Bay Bridge toll "public comment" meetings...the VAST majority of citizens oppose it. Think that means anything? Its a show, to make the citizens feel "empowered". Hope you are still feeling "empowered" when they raise the toll.
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