Short of rewriting the Virginia Constitution, there is no better way to recast the relationship between citizens and state government than overhauling the Freedom of Information Act. The law enables oversight of officials who operate on the people's behalf, spends public money and should be subject to scrutiny.
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Want to know what your government is really up to?
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act allows citizens of the commonwealth (and representatives of the media) to gain access to numerous records held by state and local agencies, government officials and other public authorities, along with providing the right to attend public meetings.
The presumption of the FOIA is that all records and all meetings are to be open to the public — unless there is a special exemption specifying secrecy.
Sounds good, right?
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The Shenandoah County School Board responded to recent news about Freedom of Information Act requests for employee salary data at its meeting Thursday night.
In December, District 4 Supervisor Cindy Bailey had asked for detailed salary data of school employees and did not want to pay the $700 price that Division Superintendent Jeremy Raley had quoted for producing the data. The price was said to be proportionate to the time and resources used to fulfill the request. Bailey's request failed to draw support from the county's board of supervisors.
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Read More… from Local School Board addresses FOIA request and processes for getting out info
More than two centuries ago, the likes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe established the cornerstones of this great commonwealth and the United States.
They built this commonwealth and nation understanding a fundamental principle — that without transparent and open government accountable to the people, those people cannot be free.
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Two bills submitted for the upcoming session of the General Assembly — one in the House, one in the Senate — are designed to restrict the public’s access to information about wrongdoing by public officials.
These restrictions will make it more difficult for taxpayers to learn about misuse of their money by local governments, school boards, and state-run colleges and universities.
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Read More… from By shrinking FOIA’s scope, (VA) General Assembly aims to cover up misbehavior
From The News Virginia: RICHMOND — Virginia has historically prided itself on its relative lack of government scandals.
But recent events — namely when Gov. Bob McDonnell accepted significant gifts from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams — have prompted concern over the state’s system of ethical checks and balances, leaving some to question whether the law goes far enough in holding its governing officials financially accountable.
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From The Daily Progress: The Virginia Coalition for Open Government has announced the recipients of its annual open government awards.
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Read More… from Virginia Coalition for Open Government names award winners
From The Virginia Gazette: WILLIAMSBURG – Although it will come after November’s elections, the Virginia Coalition for Open Government’s annual conference will explore “Gifts, Disclosure and the Virginia Way,” according to a release.
The day-long conference will be held at the Williamsburg Community Building in early December.
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Read More… from Virginia Coalition for Open Government will host annual conference
From Virginia Coalition for Open Government: In this issue: FOIA Council steps up, Lt. Gov. proposes FOIA reform, RTD's Public Square, VCOG's annual conference line-up, Open government in the news, and more.
FOIA Council steps up
At its Sept. 12 meeting, the FOIA Council took two encouraging steps toward open government in Virginia.
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Read More… from Virginia Coalition for Open Government published Sunshine Report for October 2013
From Richmond Times Dispatch: In 1996, when the Virginia Coalition for Open Government formed, its founders wanted to make at least one point abundantly clear: The public’s right to know is the public’s right to know. The Freedom of Information Act was not — and is not — a media law.
Statistics and anecdotal evidence at the local, state and federal level bear this out. The number of requests for records made by members of the news media pale in comparison with those made by citizens, lawyers, businesses, researchers and academics.
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Read More… from Megan Rhyne: The press does heavy lifting on FOIA
