Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed on Saturday a group of bills aimed at promoting transparency in governance and greater disclosure in political campaigns, saying existing laws on those matters are enough.
AB194 by Assemblywoman Nora Campos, D-San Jose, would prohibit local legislative bodies such as school boards and city councils from blocking public comments that criticize government policies or staff. The governor said the bill would add certain procedures to the Ralph M. Brown Act of 1953, which requires local government bodies to meet in public and give adequate notice, such as prescribing how time should be allotted to each speaker.
He said the added procedures "at best will elongate but in no way enhance the quality of debate at the local level," and that California has longstanding laws in place that promote transparent government and guarantee public decision making. Continue>>>
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