EDITORIAL: Montana lawmakers need to strengthen sunshine laws

Montana’s continued secrecy with information that should be released to the public is now threatening not only its citizens’ right to know, but also federal money intended to protect children.

As we’ve written in the past, many of the organizations that evaluate government transparency consistently rank Montana among the worst states in the nation. Continue…

[…]

Read More… from EDITORIAL: Montana lawmakers need to strengthen sunshine laws

Massachusetts AG to host forums on state’s open meeting law

Anyone interested in learning more about Massachusetts' open meeting law is being encouraged to attend one of a series of educational forums hosted by state Attorney General Maura Healey.

The forums are part of a larger effort by her office to help the public and local officials better understand and comply with the law, Healey said. Continue…

=======

[…]

Read More… from Massachusetts AG to host forums on state’s open meeting law

7 steps to securing open government

WHAT: Push, Pull and Spill: A Transdisciplinary Case Study in Municipal Open Government, a report by the University of Washington School of Law.

WHY: The push to open more government data at state and local levels led a cross-disciplinary team of researchers to assess open government efforts in Seattle. The analysis explored the city’s open data procedures, and their implications for privacy, public trust and citywide impact.  Continue>>>

======

[…]

Read More… from 7 steps to securing open government

Internet accessibility an important factor in government transparency

Public affairs experts say easy and constant access by citizens to important government information, referred to as government transparency, is vital for good governance as well as the perception by citizens that the government is trustworthy. However, many local governments suffer from a lack of transparency.

[…]

Read More… from Internet accessibility an important factor in government transparency

As cloud of corruption passes in D.C., regular dysfunction back in spotlight – The Washington Post

Outside the mayor’s conference room, the line of D.C. cabinet secretaries and agency directors stretched down the hall. Each studied notes and prepared excuses, like schoolchildren awaiting a turn before the principal.

[…]

Read More… from As cloud of corruption passes in D.C., regular dysfunction back in spotlight – The Washington Post