Kansas handed out tax credits for plugging abandoned oil wells and shooting a movie in the state in 2013, but the state Department of Revenue won’t say how much they were worth or who got them.
That’s confidential. Continue>>>
======
[…]
Tag: Kansas
Big costs to see public documents hinder access
The public's right to see government records is coming at an ever-increasing price as authorities set fees and hourly charges that often prevent information from flowing.
Though some states have taken steps to limit the fees, many have not:
[…]
Read More… from Big costs to see public documents hinder access
Big bills to view public documents discourage public access
The public's right to see government records is coming at an ever-increasing price, as authorities set fees and hourly charges that often prevent information from flowing.
Though some states have taken steps to limit the fees, many have not:
[…]
Read More… from Big bills to view public documents discourage public access
Wichita’s chance to increase government transparency on spending
The Wichita City Council can decide to increase transparency in regards to spending, or let it remain being spent in secret.
The City of Wichita has three surrogate quasi-governmental agencies that are almost totally taxpayer-funded, specifically Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, and Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition. Each agency contends it is not a “public agency” as defined in Kansas law, and therefore does not have to fulfill records requests.
[…]
Read More… from Wichita’s chance to increase government transparency on spending
Kansas attorney to receive open government award
The Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government today named Topeka media law attorney Michael L. Merriam as recipient of the Coalition’s “Above and Beyond Award” for Merriam’s career-long contributions to promoting and defending open government.
The award will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the auditorium on the first floor of the Statehouse.
[…]
Read More… from Kansas attorney to receive open government award
Guest column: Kansas, let the sunshine in
“Sunshine is the strongest antiseptic … its rays may penetrate areas previously closed,” so opined the late-Hon. Robert H. Miller, a former chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, as he explained in a court case why government records must be open under penalty of law.
[…]
In Kansas, Bills to shed light on government remain in dark
With a deadline for bills to pass one chamber of the Legislature looming next week, there has been little action on several measures meant to create more transparency in government.
A proposal to open judicial records outlining probable cause for search and arrest warrants that initially appeared to have bipartisan support may be watered down considerably after a few prosecutors objected.
[…]
Read More… from In Kansas, Bills to shed light on government remain in dark
Editorial: Open government
Creating a state-level unit to monitor open meetings and open records could vastly improve the state’s ability to enforce these important laws.
Spending about $160,000 a year to police compliance to the Kansas Open Meetings Act and Kansas Open Records Act would be a good investment for the state.
[…]
Kansas Attorney General proposes open government unit
The office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is proposing a special two-person unit within his agency devoted solely to investigating Kansas Open Meetings Act and Kansas Open Records Act complaints.
The measure has the support of the Kansas Press Association. Doug Anstaett, the organization's executive director, told a legislative committee Tuesday that housing an open government unit within the attorney general's office would send a message that such complaints are a high priority.
[…]
Read More… from Kansas Attorney General proposes open government unit
Open government advocates find Kansas’ local reporting inadequate
From KansasReporter.org:
TOPEKA — When compared to the national average, Kansas taxpayers have a better chance of tracking what the state does with their tax money. But what local governments show remains murkier, says an online organization that advocates for open government.
[…]
Read More… from Open government advocates find Kansas’ local reporting inadequate