Smart Talk: Government transparency during Sunshine Week
What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, March 16, 2015:
It is Sunshine Week – a time to bring awareness to the public about the importance of government transparency and the potential dangers of government business conducted in secret.
Pennsylvania had one of the nation’s weakest right-to-know laws up until a few years ago. Then in 2008 historic legislation was enacted that had an significant impact.
A major change was everything in government was considered open to the public. If the government agency or official disagreed, the onus was on them to prove it.
The state Office of Open Records was also created to act as an appeals board for those who have filed right-to-know requests that have been denied.
The agency’s first director Terry Mutchler appears on Monday’s Smart Talk.
Terry Mutchler
Mutcher’s apperance comes at a time when more changes in the right-to-know law are being considered by the legislature.
