Confusion over whether marriage license applications are a public record
April 24, 2009: "Confusion lingered among Iowa’s county recorders today over whether marriage applications completed by engaged couples qualify as public records, as Polk County and others have treated them.
Lawyers from the Iowa Attorney General’s office still had not answered the question late today, three days before a high-profile Iowa Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage takes effect." Read the full article here.
Pared-down open records bill passes House
April 16, 2009: "A watered-down version of a plan to update Iowa’s open records laws was passed by the House today with promises from lawmakers that much more will be done in the future.
“This bill is not going to make everyone happy and it shouldn’t,” said Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, who led debate on the bill. “This is going to be a fluid, continuing process.”
Citizens who are refused public documents often either give up or are left spending thousands of dollars in attorney fees, supporters of the legislation have said." Read the full article here.
Roughwood resident seeks public records
April 16, 2009: "Johnston city officials will gather documents and e-mail records about proposed rezoning of the Roughwood neighborhood after a resident requested all the public records related to the issue.
"We are going to go back and try and pull up as much information for him as we can," said Johnston City Manager Jim Sanders." Read the full article here.
Changes to 'sunshine' law debated
April 1, 2009: "Greater secrecy in government records would result from some of the changes lawmakers have made to a bill dealing with open meetings and open records, according to the state ombudsman.
"Some of the amendments adopted last week pose a retreat from the amount of transparency and openness that currently exists in Iowa. It is just bad public policy," Ombudsman Bill Angrick wrote in a letter to key lawmakers." Read the full article here.
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