| Dinniman, Williams hold Hearing on PA Open Records Law Senators say government should be more accountable to the public |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SENATOR ANDREW E. DINNIMAN CONTACT: MARTIN INDARS HAVERFORD, OCT. 12, 2007 - State Sens. Andy Dinniman and Connie Williams today discussed Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law and how it can be improved at a public hearing at the Haverford Township Free Library in Delaware County. At the hearing, hosted by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, the senators said their ultimate objective - and the objective of fellow Democratic lawmakers - is to approve an open records law that fully recognizes Pennsylvanians’ right to know what government is doing and how it’s spending their tax dollars. “It’s the people’s government. To me that means people shouldn’t have to bear the burden of proving that certain records are public,” said Dinniman, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. “Unfortunately, that’s the way it is now under Pennsylvania’s current Open Records law.” "Pennsylvania's citizens have every right to know what their government is doing and spending on their behalf," said Williams (D-Montgomery/Delaware). Under current Pennsylvania law, a person seeking access must prove that he or she has a right to that access. In most states, however, the burden is on the agency to show that specific information is not public under law. Testifiers at the hearing included Barry Kauffman of Common Cause, Deborah Musselman of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, Bridgette ReDavid of the News of Delaware County, Lora Lavin of the League of Women Voters, and H. Paul Fitzpatrick of West Chester Borough Council. Lavin said the League of Women Voters “believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizens’ right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, by holding open meetings and by making public records accessible.” Offering the media’s perspective, Musselman of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association said, “What we seek is an acknowledgement that government records belong to the public, and a shift in the way our law and agencies consider access should be granted.” "Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know law does need to be strengthened, but it is imperative that any amendments the state legislature offer to the law improve upon weaknesses in a way that ensures it better serves the needs of all Pennsylvanians," Williams said. "The expert testimony offered today provides valuable insight into not only the shortcomings of the law, but also some tangible solutions that we may look at as legislation is prepared to amend the law." “As we heard over and over again at today’s hearing, Pennsylvania is not a shining example of a state that fully respects the public’s right to know,” Dinniman said. “Our aim is to change that.” For more information, call Sen. Dinniman’s office at 610-692-2112 or Sen. Connie Williams’ office at 610-992-9790. ### |