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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Ind. Gov't. - Two editorials take General Assembly to task

Both the Evansville Courier& Press and the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette have editorials that strongly take members of this year's General Assembly to task.

The Courier& Press writes:

Legislation that would have banned public boards in Indiana from holding secret serial meetings may be dead for the second year in a row. Shame on those responsible.

Jennifer Whitson of the Courier & Press Indianapolis bureau reported Wednesday that a House committee chairman said it is a matter of too little time.

"I don't have a problem with the content of the bill, but in a short session, I'm very limited on time," said the chairman of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee, Jim Buck, R-Kokomo.

That raises some questions: What is there about this issue that requires so much time? Either you agree that public boards should not meet in secret, so as to avoid public scrutiny, or you agree that they should be allowed to continue that deceitful practice. * * *

Last year the bill passed the Senate 49-0, only to fail to get a committee hearing in the House. This year it passed the Senate 48-2, and now the House committee chairman says he doesn't have time. A pattern is unfolding.

Whitson said there is still a chance that the meetings ban could be included in a late-session compromise. Let's hope so. The House could do much to demonstrate its support for open and accessible government by finding a way to save Senate Bill 89.

The Journal Gazette writes, in an editorial titled "Statehouse Wisdom?":
If Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma is behaving like an adolescent when it comes to his stubborn defense of Statehouse prayers, it’s at least encouraging to see an Indiana teenager behaving like a mature, responsible and informed citizen.

That would be Ryan Nees, a 16-year-old who has prevailed in his open-records suit against Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip. A Howard County judge ruled Monday that the mayor must hand over the e-mail address list for the city’s electronic newsletter and that it must cover Nees’ $5,000-plus legal fees. Nees asked for the list because he was concerned that his e-mail address was being used for political purposes. The mayor’s missives included invitations to fundraisers rather than news about City Hall.

Unfortunately, the ruling will be invalidated if Senate Bill 205 prevails. The bill, filed by Republican Jeff Drozda of Westfield, is emergency legislation to shut down public access to e-mail lists compiled by elected officials. The Senate unanimously approved it. In the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee, Fort Wayne Democrat Win Moses cast the only “no” vote. The bill is up for second reading in the House.

It should be defeated. As Nees’ case points out, hiding information does not protect the public from privacy abuse if an elected official chooses to misuse it. The Kokomo student is wise beyond his years to recognize that fact and to challenge those in authority.

Sadly, the same can’t be said for House Speaker Bosma, whose we-outnumber-you comment to a Jewish delegation represents a stunning display of immaturity.

Bosma was meeting with the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council to discuss various issues when the speaker himself raised the prayer controversy. According to an e-mail written by Rabbi Jon Adland to his congregation, Bosma defended his position by asking, “How many Jews are there in Indiana? About 2 percent? There are at least 80 percent Christians in Indiana.” * * *

Bosma later said he was sorry if his words were offensive. They were – and he should be sorry. More important, he should be reviewing the principles of a constitutional democracy, which rests on a foundation of majority rule and the protection of minority rights. A bright young student named Ryan Nees could probably help him understand.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 23, 2006 07:41 AM
Posted to Indiana Government