Freedom of Information should be same for all

West Virginia’s proposed House Bill 3412 threatens to exempt the state legislature from standard public record laws, granting lawmakers unilateral power to determine which documents are disclosed. This shift would create a two-tiered system where legislators operate under self-defined rules regarding access timelines and fees, unlike all other government entities bound by existing transparency statutes. This legislative move undermines the foundational principle of equal accountability, allowing elected officials to potentially shield their decision-making processes from public scrutiny. By seeking special exemptions, the bill prioritizes institutional secrecy over the right of citizens to understand how their government operates, effectively diminishing the check that public oversight provides on legislative actions. Such changes are critically relevant to open data advocates because they represent a regression in government transparency. Uniform access to public records is essential for maintaining trust and enabling informed civic engagement. Supporting the bill’s defeat ensures that all government bodies remain subject to the same rigorous standards of openness, preserving the integrity of public information for every citizen.

Source: weirtondailytimes.com
Published on 2025-04-05

Freedom of Information should be same for all

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