Hidden Government is Bad Government

Terror strikes at open meetings

A cloud of secrecy could block the sunshine of open government if officials invoke the threat of terrorism as an excuse to close meetings and keep documents private.

Recently passed legislation gives government officials broad powers to keep records secret and close meetings so long as terrorism or related criminal activity is at issue. Gov. Rick Perry has until Sunday to sign or veto the legislation, or let it go into law without his signature.

What was the saying that dominated the political debate after 9/11? "If you do this or this, then the terrorists will have won"?

I should have expected this to happen eventually.

Mostly at issue is a series of provisions in the state homeland security bill. So long as the threat of terrorism is invoked, government officials would have the power to keep secret any information, other than financial, associated with terrorism.

Under the pending law, risk assessment studies by power plant owners or bridge builders given to the government are private. University research on biological or chemical weapons as well as conventional weapons is off-limits.

Any security systems, including the location of cameras, don’t have to be disclosed. And any government body meeting to discuss a terrorist threat or crisis can meet in secret if the meeting is taped to be later reviewed by a judge if a protest is lodged.

The bills of importance are House Bill 9, House Bill 2004, and House Bill 1931. The authors are Representative Kino Flores, Representative Kenny Marchant, and Representative Jaime Capelo respectively.

Posted by Drizzten at June 19, 2003 06:41 PM