In various locales around Missouri, government officials have engaged in wanton violations of the state’s Sunshine Law either through carelessness or willful defiance. Whatever the excuse, there is no excuse.
The public has a right to know how decisions are made and taxpayer dollars are spent. Keeping tabs on officials becomes much harder when they cloak their activities in secrecy. The denial of public access serves as an open invitation for corrupt practices and mischief.
An audit report released in November by Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway underscored why the public needs reminding. Galloway’s report on local and state compliance with Missouri’s Sunshine Law suggested that several governing bodies have engaged in patterns of abuse. Continue…
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