The biggest loser in the HB 509 saga
As noted by Linda Blackford, “we the people” were the biggest winners in the HB 509 open-records saga. But who was the biggest loser?
Amye Bensenhaver
Amye is a retired assistant AG who specialized in open records laws. She is the co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. (Read the rest of her bio on the Contributors page.)
Let us savor the victory for open records – then prepare for the next fight
All who fought to protect our open records laws should celebrate our shared victory. But then, we should work together to get ready for the next attack.
A rant about HB 509, open records, and legislators’ ignorance
Lawmakers who know so little about the requirements of the open records law, much less it’s necessity and value — or who are willing to justify needless and destructive revision of the law with false claims and misrepresentations — cannot be entrusted with the future of the law.
Did we dodge the HB 509 bullet?
Has the latest attack on open records died? Or will it rise from its grave in the last two days of the session?
Nine minutes. To reverse nearly a half-century of open records law.
The most significant of bills sometimes get the least attention. This was one of those times.
It’s Sunshine Week? Or ... is it?
Unhappily, this year’s Sunshine Week will once again be a period of grave concern about what we may lose, rather than a celebration of what we have won
The open records bill is better, but still has significant problems
The bill still exempts private devices and accounts from public records requests. Want to hide something you’re doing from the public? Just do it on your personal cell phone.
Public records compromise still has giant loophole
A public record is a public record regardless of where it is stored. This bill still ignores that.
Another murderous attack on our open records laws
Once again, the Lege is looking at gutting our open records laws. What are they trying to hide?
Yes – the Open Records law applies to the Attorney General as well
After over three years, the bottom line is simple: the AG’s office has to follow the same rules it applies to others.
Louisville’s non-commitment to open records
Thousands of open-records requests are languishing in Louisville – and Mayor Greenberg hasn’t been effective in fixing the problem.
Bills impacting open government filed in week one of the Kentucky General Assembly
Amye Bensenhaver updates us on bills filed in week one of the legislature that either support or harm government transparency.
Top Ten open government stories of 2023 (part two)
Attacks on open government continued in 2023 – and the Open Government Coalition continued to fight back. Here is their list of the top ten stories in that fight from 2023.
The KY General Assembly: where transparency goes to die
“Secrecy is the freedom zealots dream of.” – Bill Moyers
Top Ten open government stories of 2023 (part one)
Attacks on open government continued in 2023 – and the Open Government Coalition continued to fight back. Here is their list of the top ten stories in that fight from 2023.
