Colorado – Page 7 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Yes on Proposition 104: Shed light on teachers union negotiations

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Secrecy is the enemy of good government. Fortunately, here in Colorado, we have developed a strong tradition of transparency and open government so that citizens can see how their tax dollars are being used.

In the early 1970s, over the objections of many in government, we passed laws to make government records open for public review and required meetings to be open for all to see under the Open Meetings Law, which is part of the Colorado Sunshine Law.

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Getting school transparency using Colorado law

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One of the many questions parents have as part of the controversial school curriculum debate in the Jefferson County School District concerns their legal rights to information from the school board.

If you are in the Jefferson County or have questions about your district there is help finding out your rights to know what is going on in your school district. The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is holding a free informational seminar on Monday, September 29 starting at 7 p.m. about the public's right to know information and its access to open meetings.

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Colorado Supreme Court: Legal fees can be reimbursed in records challenges

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The Colorado Supreme Court has sided with open-government advocates in a case over records and court costs. The court ruled 5-2 Monday that people who win open-records lawsuits can be reimbursed for legal fees — even if they win access to only some of the records.

The case stemmed from a 2006 open-records request from the Colorado Republican Party to some Democratic state lawmakers. The GOP wanted to see results from a public survey, and a court later ruled that some but not all of the surveys were subject to the Colorado Open Records Act.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Sunshine Laws are key to government transparency

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Democracy depends on the informed and active participation of citizens at all levels of government. Democratic governmental bodies must protect a citizen's right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible. When our right to know is violated, democracy suffers.

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