Monthly Archives: January 2010

Platts, health care reform and sunshine

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

Some members of Congress — Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County, among them — support forcing a vote on a bill that would make ongoing talks about health care reform open to the public. The bill notes a New York Times … Continue reading →

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More on what agencies can/can’t charge you for documents

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

A recent court decision sets precedent that agencies can’t charge for staff time it takes to look for records, according to a lawyer for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association. The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition’s Kim de Bourbon weighed in, too. … Continue reading →

Posted in Pennsylvania Right to Know | 2 Comments

Twitter wins in Pa. ‘Bonusgate’ case

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

Defense lawyers in the ‘Bonusgate’ case told a judge they thought that tweets from the courtroom could change the testimony of sequestered witnesses, and they asked the judge to ban tweeting during the case. But on Monday, Dauphin County Judge … Continue reading →

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For posterity — and for tracking promises — here’s Mayor Bracey’s inaugural address

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

Kim Bracey, York’s first black mayor, laid out nine initiatives in her 2,279-word address, and pledged to launch them in the first nine months of her administration. Her address is here.

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More open-records lawsuits against Obama than Bush

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

The Washington Post reports that 319 lawsuits have been filed against the Obama administration by people seeking public records — more than in either of President George W. Bush’s final two years in office. Lawsuits can be filed only after … Continue reading →

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Counting people

Posted on January 26, 2010 by nichole dobo

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from the folks at the Census office. It was a letter telling me to be aware another letter is coming. My address has been selected to fill out a survey. And they … Continue reading →

Posted in Nichole Dobo, Online records | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

If an agency charges you staff time for a records request, you don’t have to pay

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

You shouldn’t have to pay for the time it takes an agency to fill an open records request — though some, if not many, agencies do try to charge for that time. The state’s open records office, though, issued a … Continue reading →

Posted in Pennsylvania Right to Know | 2 Comments

Webcast to assess whether FOIA is better under Obama

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

OMB Watch, a government accountability group, is putting on a webcast during which a panel will discuss whether President Obama has lived up to his pledge that his would be the most transparent administration in history. The webcast is 3 … Continue reading →

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Crime victims find it hard to get repaid, but there might be hope

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

Many cime victims who are owed money never see it, because of a flawed and overwhelmed system — but the amount being collected annually in York County is rising. The county clerk’s office reported recently that it collected almost $11 … Continue reading →

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In Allentown, not the usual open-records squabble

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Scott Blanchard

Officials in Allentown are fighting the release of e-mails and daily schedules for its mayor, Ed Pawlowski, and two cabinet members — but not for the reason you might expect. The Allentown Morning Call reports that the city doesn’t dispute … Continue reading →

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