When asked to name an event occurring in March, many would identify St. Patrick’s Day. Sports fans might default to March Madness. A small cadre of die-hards with a fanatical dedication to open government will answer Sunshine Week, which starts Sunday. All three answers are correct, even though it might not be immediately clear how they’re connected.
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WASHINGTON – It began, as politics often does, with a promise.
“My administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government,” President Obama said shortly after his inauguration four years ago.
That was then. How about now?
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Read More… from Sunshine Week: Obama has mixed record on open government
From KnightNews.com:
In 1787, a document was birthed in order to regulate a diversified nation; at the time, to only create a government that would not be able to rule tyrannically but instead, serve citizens rightfully. Today that document, known as the United States Constitution, contains important amendments and laws which aim at providing citizens with three things: Life, Liberty and a pursuit of happiness.
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Read More… from Sunshine Week: Why We Think Openness is so Important at UCF
Editorial from The Daily Advertiser:
One of the fundamental principles of this country is that government must be open and accountable to the people.
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Read More… from Sunshine Week celebrates transparency in government
From The Daily Advertiser:
How well do local government agencies comply with Louisiana's open government laws?
To find out, The Daily Advertiser conducted a survey with help from the students in Dr. Robert Buckman's public affairs reporting class at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
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Read More… from UL students uncover ‘horror story’ through Sunshine Week survey
Opinion from Democrat and Chronicle:
In an era when time-pressed technophiles have groceries delivered to their doors and buy tickets en route to the cinema with ubiquitous sidekick gadgets, the meaning of convenience is rewritten daily.
For democracy’s sake, however, government bodies can no longer conflate a convenience with a right. There should be no confusion about public access to information.
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From Florida First Amendment Foundation:
Two events highlight the First Amendment Foundation's 2013 observance of Sunshine Week, the national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week 2013 runs from March 10-16.
Sunshine Recognition Luncheon
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Read More… from Florida First Amendment Foundation celebrates Sunshine Week
Two Oklahoma newspapers and a state lawmaker were honored Saturday during FOI Oklahoma's Sunshine Week activities at the University of Oklahoma.
The Enid News & Eagle was awarded the Marian Opala First Amendment Award and the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise was given the Ben Blackstock Award.
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Read More… from Two Oklahoma newspapers, legislator garner FOI honors during Sunshine Week
Editorial from Coloradoan.com:
In a place known for its 300-plus days of sunny weather every year, a proclamation of “Sunshine Week” may not be met with the ovation it deserves.
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Read More… from Sunshine Week highlights the importance of open records and government transparency
