Secrecy finds backers in Legislature
May 3, 2009: "Information about the estimated 220,000 Tennesseans authorized by the state to carry loaded handguns in public isn’t the only thing state lawmakers want to shield from residents.
Legislative records show lawmakers have sponsored more than a dozen other bills this session to shut off various types of public information or meetings." Read the full article here.
Keep gun permit information open
April 27, 2009: "A bill that would close all public access to the names of people with state-issued handgun carry permits is advancing in the Tennessee House. This is misguided legislation that should be killed.
The legislation is being sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bass, a Giles County Democrat and a retired sheriff. It passed the House Budget Subcommittee on Wednesday. The companion bill is awaiting a vote by the full Senate." Read the full column here.
Judge To Examine Anderson Legal Billings To East Ridge
April 6, 2009: "Chancellor Howell Peoples ruled Monday that he will inspect the itemized legal billings of East Ridge City Attorney John Anderson to determine which, if any, should not be made public.
Judge Peoples gave East Ridge five business days to provide the records and asked attorney Anderson to highlight those he believes should be kept confidential because of 'attorney-client privilege.'" Read the full article here.
Meeting in online forums? Officials should stick to in-person sessions
April 6, 2009: "If elected officials can't physically make it to most of their meetings, then perhaps they shouldn't be office-holders.
That thought came to mind after the Tennessee House last week unanimously approved a bill that would allow local bodies to meet in online forums rather than in person.
Under this legislation, the local government would have to submit a plan to the Office of Open Records Counsel to ensure that the local body complied with all of the requirements of the legislation." Read the full editorial here.
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