Arkansas Blog

As I understand it, under current law, the taxpayers pick up the tab for the government's lawyers in FOIA litigation, win or lose. This bill would have them reimburse citizens only if they win FOIA cases after they have to secure their rights by taking bureaucrats to court.

It is somewhat ironic that HB1732 in the House Agriculture Committee this morning would create yet another exemption to the coverage of the Arkansas FOIA.

ARK. BLOG: Right. But I'm thinking these bozos would like to have the law reimburse the state for their time if a plaintiff lost. Just to add a further punitive touch to anyone who presumed government should be open.

The good-ole boys have been chipping away at FOI forever. In fact, it took the anger of the 60s to pry open those closed smoke filled rooms. And, the cockroaches have been trying to slam the doors shut ever since...guess the sunshine is too much for em. Looks like it's going to take another revolution to remind them that they work for us and their business IS our business.

This is a no-brainer: A successful suit to gain legal access to public information shouldn't cost the citizen who's rightfully exercised their civic duty. It SHOULD cost, in one way or another, the ignorant official who has wrongly denied a citizen access to the information that legally and morally belongs to him/her.

When Clinton became president he opened government by saying that if information 'could' be given to the public it should be given. When monkeyboy took office...he did the polar opposite. Huck too. I can find NO redeeming qualities in today's crop of Republican politicians.

I don't see that McDaniel supports the FOI. When Beebe was the AG the FOI was on the home page of his website a number of times. McDaniel's does not and you have to search for it under Laws/Acts. It is listed on the same page as Tobacco Acts and Law Links.
Speaking of the FOI you might want to look at HB2217. It would require school districts to post on their websites the time and place for regular board meetings. Now if it would also require the public notification for special meetings. Since public education spends your tax money I think you should be informed about when and where school business is taking place.

AG is a position that affords a lot of good media attention. In recent years it's proved a stepping stone to name recognition and higher office. I assume McDaniel eyes the Governor's office or a Senate seat down the line.

For his own political good, he should be doing the right thing for the people at every opportunity. It never looks good to work on helping politicians keep things out of the daylight.

It's a damn shame to see the "David Harris" bill, HB 1520 go down to defeat. Please do get a roll call vote so we can write down who hates Arkansas and its people.

But what else can we expect in the Bush era of "None-ya." It's not about Democrats or Republicans, it's about secrecy and protection for the rich and powerful.

An FOI suit is much nicer than a sniper in a tower. History shows when a population loses all power and feels oppressed, violence is around the next corner.

A few Baghdad style bombings cost much less than an FOI suit. Someone will figure blowing the doors off the halls of power is quicker and cheaper than prying them open with a law suit.

America is going forward in technology, but backwards in everything else. Gitmo is an experiment in bringing back debtor's prison. Remember Blanche and Mark when you open up your next credit card bill.

And thanks 10,000 times to David Harris, no doubt the last average citizen in Arkansas who will ever bring an FOI lawsuit.

Reps. Sumpter, Harrelson, and Wagner are also listed as members of that committee. Were they AWOL or merely sitting on their hands when the roll was called?

The citizens and journalists of West Memphis, Texarkana, Blytheville, Siloam Springs, Bentonville, Lowell, Van Buren, Camden, Heber Springs, Helena, Hot Springs, and Marked Tree who care about open government should remember their representatives who killed this bill.

Just got my invitation to a "Re-Election Campaign Kick-Off Salute To U.S. Senator Mark Pryor" at the Little Rock Peabody March 10.

I guess he thinks I've forgotten his support of an Independent over the Democratic nominee in that Connecticut Senate race.

I was in Senate Judiciary running HB1362 and HB1130. I'm sorry I missed. If it comes back up, I'll vote in favor of it.

I did too, Spirit...

I read with amusement all of the names plastered all over it...

It is currently sitting in the recycle bin...

Yes, he indeed has forgotten about a lot of things: praising Monkeyboy at a prayer breakfast, Gang of 14 (what a joke), Leave-here-man, voting with the GOP 83% of the time...need I go on?