Transparency News 2/7/17
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
State and Local Stories
State and Local Stories
A proposal by Del. Mark Levine (D-45th) requiring presidential candidates to release their federal tax returns and foreign payments met its death in a subcommittee of the House Committee on Privileges and Elections. Levine had proposed that, in order to be placed on the ballot for either a presidential primary or the general election, a candidate must submit federal tax returns for the 10 prior years. That same 10-year window also applied to the proposal to require disclosure of payments from foreign entities.
Inside NOVA
National Stories
Under a bill proposed in Oklahoma, publishing online even the “personal photograph” of a police officer would be a misdemeanor “if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the law enforcement official’s safety or the safety of the law enforcement official’s immediate family and the person making the information available on the internet knows or reasonably should know of the imminent and serious threat.”
FOI Oklahoma
A bill introduced Tuesday in the state Legislature could pull North Dakota University System sexual discrimination cases from the public record. As introduced, Senate Bill 2295 would add new language to the North Dakota Century Code exempting records related to complaints or investigations under Title IX — the federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination in federally funded education systems — from public disclosure. The bill also would amend existing code to extend public record exemptions to cover data produced from university research studies. Both sections would apply to institutions under the control of the State Board of Higher Education.
Bismarck Tribune
Editorials/Columns
Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon has said the media should “keep its mouth shut.” Virginians have their own version of Bannon in state Sen. Tommy Norment. Last year Norment banned reporters from the Senate floor. After much outcry, the majority leader relented. In the meantime, he sponsored a measure that would have severely weakened state disclosure requirements regarding foreclosure. On Wednesday a Senate committee killed Norment’s measure. But Norment, who appears driven by his hatred for the press, seems unlikely to let the matter drop. He told publishers representing the Virginia Press Association that next year he would put his bill in the budget so “you won’t be able to take it out.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch
I must say, however, that I’m less worried about who is allowed in the [Richmond City Council] media gallery than what is allowed in the council chambers. It’s an unwise and unsound public policy to allow civilians to carry firearms into a government meeting. The council members worried about being “sitting ducks” at the mercy of media members behind them should feel no comfort at the sight of an apoplectic citizen approaching the mic wearing a sidearm. Of course, on this point, I’m preaching to a choir that’s handcuffed by the Virginia General Assembly. Simply put, “localities are forbidden to adopt laws of any kind to restrict firearms or even ammunition for firearms,” said Richmond City Attorney Allen Jackson.
Michael Paul Williams, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HB 2108, after revisions, has two components that opponents are concerned about. It would restrict a municipality’s ability to address the “last mile” of broadband access — a public authority could build the infrastructure to get to unserved areas but only a private company could connect individuals and businesses to the network. Public disclosure exemptions for proprietary information would be removed. And any locality that wanted to venture into broadband access would be subject to a new state-level review and the requirement of a needs-assessment study.
News & Advance
Inside NOVA
National Stories
Under a bill proposed in Oklahoma, publishing online even the “personal photograph” of a police officer would be a misdemeanor “if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the law enforcement official’s safety or the safety of the law enforcement official’s immediate family and the person making the information available on the internet knows or reasonably should know of the imminent and serious threat.”
FOI Oklahoma
A bill introduced Tuesday in the state Legislature could pull North Dakota University System sexual discrimination cases from the public record. As introduced, Senate Bill 2295 would add new language to the North Dakota Century Code exempting records related to complaints or investigations under Title IX — the federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination in federally funded education systems — from public disclosure. The bill also would amend existing code to extend public record exemptions to cover data produced from university research studies. Both sections would apply to institutions under the control of the State Board of Higher Education.
Bismarck Tribune
Editorials/Columns
Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon has said the media should “keep its mouth shut.” Virginians have their own version of Bannon in state Sen. Tommy Norment. Last year Norment banned reporters from the Senate floor. After much outcry, the majority leader relented. In the meantime, he sponsored a measure that would have severely weakened state disclosure requirements regarding foreclosure. On Wednesday a Senate committee killed Norment’s measure. But Norment, who appears driven by his hatred for the press, seems unlikely to let the matter drop. He told publishers representing the Virginia Press Association that next year he would put his bill in the budget so “you won’t be able to take it out.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch
I must say, however, that I’m less worried about who is allowed in the [Richmond City Council] media gallery than what is allowed in the council chambers. It’s an unwise and unsound public policy to allow civilians to carry firearms into a government meeting. The council members worried about being “sitting ducks” at the mercy of media members behind them should feel no comfort at the sight of an apoplectic citizen approaching the mic wearing a sidearm. Of course, on this point, I’m preaching to a choir that’s handcuffed by the Virginia General Assembly. Simply put, “localities are forbidden to adopt laws of any kind to restrict firearms or even ammunition for firearms,” said Richmond City Attorney Allen Jackson.
Michael Paul Williams, Richmond Times-Dispatch
HB 2108, after revisions, has two components that opponents are concerned about. It would restrict a municipality’s ability to address the “last mile” of broadband access — a public authority could build the infrastructure to get to unserved areas but only a private company could connect individuals and businesses to the network. Public disclosure exemptions for proprietary information would be removed. And any locality that wanted to venture into broadband access would be subject to a new state-level review and the requirement of a needs-assessment study.
News & Advance
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