OUR TURN: Open-government laws deserve continued support

Believe it or not, there used to be a time when the government didn’t have to release most of its information to the public.

Though Americans have always had the First Amendment to prohibit the government from restricting a free press, only in recent times have there been laws mandating that the government has an obligation to make certain information available to citizens.

These are called sunshine laws and most states have them in some form or fashion, as does the U.S. government.

The laws apply to services and information collected, applied or conducted using taxpayer funds, whether it’s the cost of a roadway project to the name of a person under arrest.

The statutes also make it illegal for elected leaders to meet and decide government business in secret.

The underlying theme is that democracy can’t function without an informed electorate. In order to make responsible decisions based on the best knowledge available, voters must have all the facts at hand.

Government must practice in the open, and citizens must have access to public records.

It was for that reason Congress enacted the Federal Freedom of Information Act in 1966.

From this initiative grew the states’ open meetings and open records laws. These statutes ensure that city councils can no longer cut deals in back rooms, out of the public eye; that city and county budgets and contracts are open to public review; and that the government’s business is conducted before the people.

The laws benefit everyone, from journalists to the general public. Knowledge is power, and a government that operates with nearly complete transparency is a government of the people and by the people, as the Founding Fathers envisioned.

Of course, there are certain records that should not be public, including national defense secrets and data that would help solve a crime. But for the most part, there is no reason not to make the inner workings of government open to citizens, thereby strengthening the liberties Americans hold so dear.

Texans can be proud of their state, because for the most part it has an admirable track record for following and enforcing open records and open meetings laws.

This kind of widespread support from both elected leaders and the public for open government and lawful access to information must continue, both in Texas and across the United States. Secrecy in government dealings should be the exception, not the norm.

That’s one of the reasons why the American Society of News Editors celebrated last week as Sunshine Week.

According to ASNE, "Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information …Though spearheaded by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why."

The society adds,  "Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger."

Americans have a right to know what their government is doing. Open access to the halls of power and policy gives every citizen an avenue to participate in, or at least monitor, the decisions that are made affecting all of us.

Recognizing the importance of open government should be a year-round practice, not just restricted to one week.

Sunshine laws must be supported and enhanced. The people’s business must be conducted before the people.

The Daily Tribune editorial board includes Dan Alvey, Amber Alvey Weems, Thomas Edwards, Daniel Clifton and Chris Porter.