Gov. Beverly Perdue vetoed a bill Thursday that would keep secret various records that legislators send or receive in the process of drafting legislation.
The bill would keep confidential documents submitted to lawmakers or their staff regarding legislation being drafted. And documents or requests sent by legislative staffers to state agencies regarding bills being drafted would also remain secret.
"This bill unnecessarily adds new restrictions on public access to documents and information," Perdue said.
More after the jump.
—————
The N.C. Coalition for Lobbying & Government Reform praised the veto, Perdue's first.
"It would have made it difficult for citizens to follow legislation," said coalition Director Jane Pinsky, "and to find out where the idea came from, who’s pushing it and who’s benefitting from it."
Perdue emphasized, both during her campaign last fall and as governor, that she wants a transparent administration. Among other steps, she ordered the release earlier this year of state highway patrol documents detailing then-Gov. Mike Easley's travel that the N&O had repeatedly requested during Easley's administration. The documents led to a series of stories in the paper about unreported free travel that Easley received, which is part of an ongoing federal investigation.
Blog RSS feed
Re: Perdue vetos secret records bill
If this bill was passed almost unanimously by the legislature, then they'll just override her veto.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Just makes good press.
The override will probably happen quietly. Sorry - just completely cynical about Bev & the Jones Street gang.