A Delaware lawmaker who backed a bill to give government officials more power to deny Freedom of Information Act requests is reconsidering the bill after open government advocates raised objections. The Delaware Coalition for Open Government opposed the bill, saying the new exemptions would make the state “one of the most restrictive states (if not […]
Read More… from After pushback from coalition, Delaware lawmaker rethinks FOIA ‘abuse’ bill
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government is urging members of the Delaware State Senate to vote no on Senate Bill 155. The bill would amend the Freedom of Information Act to allow for new legal fees, new scanning fees, new broad FOIA exemptions, new prohibitions on monetary compensation and a new shorter timeframe for the public to […]
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government has been advocating for the establishment of a Delaware Office of the State Inspector General, which would oversee state agencies for transparency, accountability, and other good government issues. DelCOG has been working with the Association of Inspectors General, located at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is writing a […]
Read More… from Delaware coalition pushes for creation of Office of the State Inspector General
COVID-19 has presented a host of challenges. Things that were commonplace and done without a second thought six months ago, like going on a date or working out at the gym, are totally different now. Life in the time of COVID has completely changed society, and few areas have been impacted more than government operations. […]
Read More… from Government transparency: Is enough being done in age of COVID?
Advocates say they’ve secured legal representation to continue their effort to restore the bus hub at Rodney Square. The Coalition to Restore the Rodney Square Bus Hub has been trying to see Gov. John Carney’s unredacted email exchanges with Wilmington business leaders for a year. The business leaders were advocating for reducing bus traffic in […]
Two Delaware lawmakers have proposed dueling bills over how charter schools are audited after a string of high-profile incidents in which charter leaders were caught misusing taxpayer funds.
State Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, wants the state auditor to select and oversee the firms that do the annual financial reports of charter schools. Currently, charter school boards work out those contracts themselves.
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Read More… from Delaware lawmakers spar over charter school audit bills
The legal structure of a Delaware Limited Liability Company (LLC) grants secrecy to its members, investors, and sources of financing when conducting business.
Because of this lack of transparency is it possible that unknown business interests, and even foreign governments, could invest, own, and gain access to our nation’s vulnerable infrastructure? Continue…
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Read More… from Editorial: Do Delaware’s secrets pose a security risk?
Emails again. We should probably consider this a learning-curve era. Also, we should expect more major and minor scandals and political fights involving public officials and their emails. After all, email has only been around for 40 or so years and in common use for more than 20.
Someday a policy will be worked out that everyone understands.
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Read More… from Editorial: Keep public records, even emails, open
Four pieces of legislation that could increase transparency in government and strengthen Delaware's Freedom of Information Act were filed by Democratic lawmakers Tuesday.
The bills tackle posting of meeting minutes, mailed FOIA requests, publishing of annual reports and require an annual seminar for the state's FOIA coordinators.
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Read More… from Lawmakers file bills bolstering Delaware’s FOIA laws
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear the Delaware Court of Chancery's appeal of a federal appellate court ruling declaring its confidential arbitration program unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's refusal to grant certiorari ends the Chancery Court's arbitration program after three years of litigation and two federal court decisions.
In an order issued Monday, the high court said it would not grant certiorari in Delaware Coalition for Open Government v. Strine, but did not provide more information.
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