The good news for Arkansans who pay taxes and expect government to work for them--that is, all of us--is that the Arkansas Freedom of Information Task Force seems to understand the importance of government transparency. And how the state's FOI Act is the very foundation for such matters.
The committee, which is supposed to make recommendations to the Ledge, discussed a couple-four bills that came up in the last legislative session. And unanimously voted against three of the worst offenders--bills that would create new exemptions to Arkansas' FOIA or extend the amount of time government may take before releasing certain records.
Those who want to change the law--and Arkansas' FOIA is a shining example for the rest of the nation--acknowledge that most folks who use the law act in good faith. But they complain that 1 percent of taxpayers make what they call voluminous records requests. And so put government workers in jeopardy of breaking the law or, as they put it, neglecting their "primary responsibility."
That argument reminds us of an old editor, many years ago, who was arguing with a bureaucrat in some high muckety-muck office. The bureaucrat told the editor he couldn't get the records request done in three days, no matter what the law said, because he and his people were too busy doing their jobs. To which the crusty old editor responded: "Sir, following the law is your job."
We'd call it a primary responsibility, too.
Editorial on 04/11/2018