Transparency News 2/2/16

State and Local Stories

Virginia lawmakers draft all sorts of bills that never see the light of day. Maybe the laws aren’t really necessary. Perhaps they’ll anger a constituent group. Or, they could become fodder for an attack ad. But under a bill pending in the House of Delegates, some lawmakers worry their worst ideas could be used against them. The measure would give more people access to confidential bill requests that legislators make of the lawyers who write bills on their behalf. It was introduced by House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights), and has the rare distinction of being officially supported by other members of the Republican leadership, including Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). Democrats — and, privately, some Republicans — say the bill could erode the attorney-client privilege lawmakers enjoy when working out potential legislation, tip off the other party to what they’re planning and push the public bill-vetting process behind closed doors.
The bill is HB 1333
Washington Post

Local governments would have to post purchase records online under legislation being considered at the state Capitol. Senate Bill 500, from freshman state Sen. Glen Sturtevant, would require cities, counties and school divisions to post "a register of all funds expended" online. They would have to include vendor names, payment dates, payment amounts and a description of each expense, the bill states.
Daily Press



Editorials/Columns

That $2 million check was cut because, in a closed-door meeting — for which no minutes or notes are available — the council "authorized" the city attorney to settle the case. Did [the Newport News City Council] "authorize" spending up to $2 million? Did they remember that state law says public bodies, such as city councils, are not "authorized" to take action in closed-door meetings? Or that city code says the council must approve all settlements in excess of $250,000? Perhaps the council members thought: Oh heck, it's only $2 million. It's only the equivalent of about a penny and a half on the real estate tax rate. Perhaps they thought: It's nobody's business, really. Except that it is. It's the business of everyone on the Peninsula because the lawsuit questioned the integrity of police — integrity already gravely challenged when a federal judge freed Mr. Boyce. It's the business of everyone who pays taxes in Newport News because it is their money that's being spent.
Daily Press

It is ironic that the University of Colorado prepared a detailed report of how Littleton Public Schools could make its district safer after a school shooting but the very same university won't release its own report of how it handled James Holmes when he was a graduate student.
Denver Post