Records must remain open

The following editorial was largely written by The Times of Northwest Indiana and the South Bend Tribune and offered for use in newspapers across the state. The IDS editorial board reviewed the editorial and unanimously adopted it.\nTwo years ago, the Indiana General Assembly took commendable, long-overdue steps to make government more accessible to the public. Now, the legislative body that strengthened Indiana's Open Records Law seems determined to weaken it by exempting itself. \nSoon, perhaps as early as Organization Day Tuesday, the legislature may dramatically undercut the progress of two years ago by overriding Gov. Frank O'Bannon's veto and voting House Bill 1083 into law. \nIf this bill is passed, the law will say that the legislature is subject to the open records statutes only to the extent that it wants to be. \nThose in favor of the override want the law to apply to everyone but themselves. Apparently, their memories are short. They seem to have forgotten what led to the strengthening of the law in the first place. \nEvents that led to passage of Open Record law reforms two years ago included exposure of widespread abuses by arrogant public officials during a statewide public records audit by seven Indiana newspapers. The newspapers tested government agencies and officials as they requested public records as ordinary citizens. \nThe results were horrifying. Public officials took a cavalier or even hostile attitude toward the very people they are paid to serve.\nPublication of the audit resulted in numerous public hearings in Indiana in which members of the public recounted their own unbelievable stories in attempts to gain access to public records. \nNow here we are two years later, fighting to maintain the integrity of an Indiana government open to its citizens.\nThe bill's backers will tell you they're just trying to protect the privacy of constituents' letters and mail from the press, yet most legislators cannot recall a single abuse ever by the press.\nThe leaders of the legislature are apparently confident that the public will buy their spin that this is something between them and the media, conveniently ignoring the fact that it is the public's right to know and to have access to public documents that is at stake here. \nOpen government is not a journalistic value. It is a democratic one. Conducting government in secret leads at best to unrepresentative decision-making. At worst, it leads to abuse of power and corruption. \nThe public's voice is especially important now, when the state is facing a budget crisis and a fundamental change in the Indiana tax system.\nLawmakers who vote to override will be voting to place themselves above basic principles of democracy.\nIf legislators vote to exempt themselves from the Open Records Law, they will be asking for the mistrust that secret government inevitably breeds. As they did in 1999, the people of Indiana should be speaking out, quickly and loudly, for it is they who stand to lose the most from this decision.\nSo, get involved and tell the legislature that it should hold itself to the same standard as every other public official in the state. Call Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton and state Sen. Vi Simpson at (800) 382-9467 and let them know how you feel. Call House Speaker John Gregg and Bloomington's representatives, Mark Kruzan and Peggy Welch, at (800) 382-9841 to voice your opinion.\nStaff vote: Unanimous