Multiple whistleblowers have come forward from the U.S. Marshals Service, claiming that leadership within the agency uses requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to retaliate against individuals because they sought to report various abuses of power.
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AUGUSTA — Legislative leaders on both sides of the political aisle Tuesday defended a $6.7 billion state budget and tax bill crafted largely in secret negotiations between party leaders, saying they ran out of time to follow a more public process.
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Read More… from Maine: Transparency advocates question secret budget deal
HELENA, Mont. – Directors at six state agencies say they'll be ready to record their meetings when new transparency laws requiring them to do so take effect this year.
Five agencies must make video or audio recordings of their meetings available online or on television within one working day beginning July 1. They include the Board of Public Education, Board of Investments, teachers' and public employees' retirement boards and the Board of Regents.
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Read More… from Montana: Agencies say they’ll be ready to meet transparency laws
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, and other media organizations over the behind-the-scenes firing of former FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
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ALBANY–A bill shortening the time a state agency can take to appeal a Freedom of Information Law decision passed the Senate on Monday, three months after passing the Assembly.
The measure, sponsored by Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, a Republican from Western New York, and Assemblyman David Buchwald, a Westchester Democrat, passed both houses unanimously.
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Read More… from New York: Shorter FOIL appeal process passes Senate
Advocates for reform of DC Jail reported Thursday (11) on six recommendations about facilities and programs, but they save the seventh to blast the District government for how hard it had been to track down facts about the Jail and the privately-run annex, CTF.
"Public records are difficult to obtain," wrote the authors. "The process for obtaining public records regarding the District's correctional system is complex, time-consuming, occasionally befuddling, and sometimes fruitless."
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The Washington Teachers Union and open-government advocates are urging the D.C. Council to slow down a vote that would curb access to information related to teacher evaluations, one of the most controversial aspects of education reform efforts in the District.
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Read More… from D.C. Council considers steps to restrict public access to teacher evaluations
The New York State Freedom of Information Law states:
"The legislature hereby finds that a free society is maintained when government is responsive and responsible to the public, and when the public is aware of governmental actions. The more open a government is with its citizenry, the greater the understanding and participation of the public in government."
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Wondering how much the city spent on road salt this winter? Interested in the expenses for keeping up the city's parks?
That information will soon be at your fingertips.
Stow has decided to become a pioneer in Summit County by becoming the first entity to participate in the state treasurer's Government Transparency Program. Continue>>>
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Read More… from Stow first in Summit County to follow Ohio’s lead, put checkbook online
