I was looking through LEGIS this morning for Constitutional Amendments when I came across one that absolutely stunned me – in a very good way.
As I’ve said before, I tend to favor small, incremental steps toward a goal rather than going for everything in one fell swoop. The analogy I most often use is 3 yard plays, every play, vs going for the endzone on every play.
A lot of talk has been going on over the last couple of years about transparency in government. By and large, most in “both” parties want to leave it at that – a lot of hot air, with nothing ever actually getting done. I say this due to the lack of bills and resolutions introduced into the General Assembly regarding these topics – quite simply, there aren’t very many, and there doesn’t appear to be much interest in moving the ones that are there.
But Senate Minority Whip David Adelman (D-Decatur), who is currently being considered for an Ambassadorship to Singapore, introduced a proposed Amendment to the Georgia Constitution right around Crossover Day last year that is a GIGANTIC leap forward in transparency in government in this State – SR 520. It was read in the Senate on March 10, 2009, and referred to the Government Oversight committee, chaired by Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) – where it has sat.
The most sweeping changes can often come in extremely simple packaging, and this one is no different. Whereas various candidates at the Statewide level are talking about nitpicking a particular detail or two to change in regards to transparency (such as requiring General Assembly records to be open to the public), this proposed Amendment would change the entire ball game.
This bill would make EVERY meeting and EVERY record of EVERY governmental agency in this State, including all local governing boards and authorities – and even “private corporations performing a public purpose” – open to the public, with NO exceptions unless approved by a 2/3 vote of both the State House and State Senate, as well as the approval of the Governor.
Talk about transforming transparency in government! WOW! No more back room deals made in executive session. No more hiding documents because they could be damaging to your personal goals. No more secrets in government AT ALL.
I’m a bit leery of the “private corporations performing a public purpose” bit, I need someone to please explain to me what that particular part means, as it could be a deal breaker for me. Assuming that the clause in question does not have a meaning adverse to privacy of private corporations (I’m thinking it applies to any State agencies similar in structure to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, which are quasi-private/public), I REALLY like this proposal.
Members of the General Assembly, I ask that you have an open debate on this measure and move it forward for public approval this November, possibly with the “private corporations” clause stricken.
After all, we all want open, transparent government, right?
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Giant Leap for Transparency
I was looking through LEGIS this morning for Constitutional Amendments when I came across one that absolutely stunned me – in a very good way.
As I’ve said before, I tend to favor small, incremental steps toward a goal rather than going for everything in one fell swoop. The analogy I most often use is 3 yard plays, every play, vs going for the endzone on every play.
A lot of talk has been going on over the last couple of years about transparency in government. By and large, most in “both” parties want to leave it at that – a lot of hot air, with nothing ever actually getting done. I say this due to the lack of bills and resolutions introduced into the General Assembly regarding these topics – quite simply, there aren’t very many, and there doesn’t appear to be much interest in moving the ones that are there.
But Senate Minority Whip David Adelman (D-Decatur), who is currently being considered for an Ambassadorship to Singapore, introduced a proposed Amendment to the Georgia Constitution right around Crossover Day last year that is a GIGANTIC leap forward in transparency in government in this State – SR 520. It was read in the Senate on March 10, 2009, and referred to the Government Oversight committee, chaired by Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) – where it has sat.
The most sweeping changes can often come in extremely simple packaging, and this one is no different. Whereas various candidates at the Statewide level are talking about nitpicking a particular detail or two to change in regards to transparency (such as requiring General Assembly records to be open to the public), this proposed Amendment would change the entire ball game.
This bill would make EVERY meeting and EVERY record of EVERY governmental agency in this State, including all local governing boards and authorities – and even “private corporations performing a public purpose” – open to the public, with NO exceptions unless approved by a 2/3 vote of both the State House and State Senate, as well as the approval of the Governor.
Talk about transforming transparency in government! WOW! No more back room deals made in executive session. No more hiding documents because they could be damaging to your personal goals. No more secrets in government AT ALL.
I’m a bit leery of the “private corporations performing a public purpose” bit, I need someone to please explain to me what that particular part means, as it could be a deal breaker for me. Assuming that the clause in question does not have a meaning adverse to privacy of private corporations (I’m thinking it applies to any State agencies similar in structure to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, which are quasi-private/public), I REALLY like this proposal.
Members of the General Assembly, I ask that you have an open debate on this measure and move it forward for public approval this November, possibly with the “private corporations” clause stricken.
After all, we all want open, transparent government, right?