Richmond Times Dispatch: Freedom of Information exemptions
Freedom of Information exemptions
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-03-17-0073.html
Monday, Mar 17, 2008 - 12:09 AM
Virginia's FOI Act exempts working papers and correspondence of the governor from public disclosure but allows the governor to release the material at his discretion, said Alan Gernhardt, staff attorney for the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
Gordon Hickey, a spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, said Friday that Kaine uses e-mail.
"I don't know what would be accomplished by doing this," Hickey said after being asked to provide e-mails from Feb. 6, as The Associated Press asked five other governor's offices to do. "We'd have to look at all the e-mails and decide. We'll take a look," he said.
The AP filed public-records requests for a single day's worth of e-mails from governors in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania and California, and got little meaningful information in return.
New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell responded that they don't use e-mail.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's office rejected the AP's request, citing a state Supreme Court decision that exempted the office's records from public disclosure.
Florida and Pennsylvania provided the AP with copies of constituent and junk e-mails sent to the governor's office. Corzine's office said no records existed for Feb. 6, the date for which AP requested e-mails.
-- Tyler Whitley
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-03-17-0073.html
Monday, Mar 17, 2008 - 12:09 AM
Virginia's FOI Act exempts working papers and correspondence of the governor from public disclosure but allows the governor to release the material at his discretion, said Alan Gernhardt, staff attorney for the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.
Gordon Hickey, a spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, said Friday that Kaine uses e-mail.
"I don't know what would be accomplished by doing this," Hickey said after being asked to provide e-mails from Feb. 6, as The Associated Press asked five other governor's offices to do. "We'd have to look at all the e-mails and decide. We'll take a look," he said.
The AP filed public-records requests for a single day's worth of e-mails from governors in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania and California, and got little meaningful information in return.
New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell responded that they don't use e-mail.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's office rejected the AP's request, citing a state Supreme Court decision that exempted the office's records from public disclosure.
Florida and Pennsylvania provided the AP with copies of constituent and junk e-mails sent to the governor's office. Corzine's office said no records existed for Feb. 6, the date for which AP requested e-mails.
-- Tyler Whitley
