Public Has Right to Know
The IntelligencerPublic officials and agencies in our state compare well with those in most other states in terms of compliance with our Freedom of Information Act, according to a national study. West Virginia was ranked 10th best among the 50 states.
That should mean little or nothing to Mountain State residents, however. The bottom line is that public officials and agencies here received a grade of only 66 percent in complying with public and press requests for information.
West Virginia has strict, no-nonsense rules for officials and agencies who are asked to provide documents and reports covered under the FOI Act. That may be why we scored well in comparison to most other states.
But a two-thirds success rate in obtaining public documents simply isn't good enough. It means that too many public officials don't take the FOI Act seriously, either because they don't bother to understand it or because they don't want to.
That is unacceptable.
We recognize that many West Virginians consider freedom of information an issue primarily between the press and public officials. Most confrontations on the issue involve reporters who are told they can't have documents or reports they want.
But the issue is a very real one of the public's right to know. We in the press function as representatives of our readers and the larger community. We don't ask for documents and reports - and we don't demand access to meetings of government officials - simply to be difficult. We do so because we have an obligation to keep the public informed on how government operates. We do so because our readers deserve to have the information.
When we are told, "You can't have that report" or "You can't attend this meeting," it is, in effect, a slap in the face to you, the public.
We don't think most West Virginians like that kind of arrogance. They shouldn't - and they shouldn't put up with it.
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beach1
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09-15-08 9:18 PM
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okey,you have the right to know,only if you have the need to know. we have had soldiers killed and cia agents killed because of the news medias right to know! nuf said. stab
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atoddh
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09-15-08 5:45 PM
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FOI should be 100%.The NR should be much more aggressive - in the future - with local government and quasi-government agencies about this.
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robojock
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09-15-08 4:05 PM
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Good article. I have watched this happen on a daily basis where I previously worked and was astounded on how it was allowed to go on.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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09-15-08 2:58 PM
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Good editorial! Freedom of the press is the very FIRST Amendment! If We The People are not allowed to know what these crooks are doing with OUR money, then what chance is there they will honor ANY of the rest of the Constitution! Again, Washington Democrats and Republicans REFUSE to address defending the Constitution because NEITHER intend to. And lately, bothe State and Local officials are doing the same! I agree whole heartedly with Patrick Henry. "I know not what course OTHERS may take; but as for ME, give me liberty or give me death!" Fore there is no life without liberty.
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DavisJms7
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09-15-08 1:55 PM
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According to the Constitution, which most politicians are trying to do away with because they are afraid of being caught in the act; example Joe Manchin and his brief for DuPont, the people has a right to public records as long as they do not break the law getting them and the government is to turn over all public records when a freedom of information act is properly presented for the document. I am JAMES DAVIS and I am running for Governor and if elected to office, I will return your rights, all your rights that has been taken away from you by our government. Go to Vote Smart, they have a dot org address and read what else I will do for the state of WVa.
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