government transparency

Republican Rep. Mary Bentley of Perryville (right) listens as attorney and Transparency in Government Group member Joey McCutchen answers a question from a member of the Arkansas House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Screenshot from meeting video)

Arkansas House committee votes down bill to loosen public meetings law

BY: - March 15, 2023

EDITORS’ NOTE: Advocate Editor Sonny Albarado testified against House Bill 1610 during the March 15, 2023, meeting of the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs in his capacity as a member of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Coalition. A panel of state representatives rebuffed an attempt on Wednesday to allow members of local […]

COMMENTARY

Sunshine breaks through? Three bills cast a ray of hope

BY: - March 13, 2023

Just in time for Sunshine Week come several bills affecting Arkansas’ landmark Freedom of Information Act.  Usually, legislative proposals involving the FOIA seek to remove more records or government activity from public scrutiny, not make things more transparent. In fact, a couple such bills have been filed in the current session. But I’d like to […]

U.S. House GOP outlines agenda in bid for control in the midterms

BY: - September 23, 2022

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans gathered inside a warehouse in Southwestern Pennsylvania on Friday to outline the legislation they’d try to enact if voters give them back control of that chamber following the November midterm elections.  Speaking from an HVAC factory in Monongahela, about an hour south of Pittsburgh, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said […]