May 2009 Archives

The board of selectmen for the Town of Alfred, apparently inconvenienced and incensed by The Maine Heritage Policy Center's request for public information, have fired back at The Maine Heritage Policy Center with a particularly sarcastic request.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) requested town employee salary information and town check register information from Alfred's selectman. This public information is available under Maine's Freedom of Access Act and is available to anyone.

As you can see in this return letter to MHPC, Alfred's selectmen request records from MHPC, all of which, with the exception of request number 1, are not legally required of a private non-profit like MHPC.  Curiously enough, the Town of Alfred provided the public records requested, but still felt the need to send such a letter. The letter appears to be some odd attempt at retribution for the efforts of MHPC to obtain public records.

The question is, why is a Maine town like Alfred so upset with a request for public records? Why is providing public information such a hassle for a town who is funded soley by public dollars? 

Post your guess to comments.

At last night's work session on Senator Lisa Marrache's bill, LD 1353, to hide public employees names, the Judiciary Committee voted a unanimous "Ought Not To Pass," sending a message that Maine government should stay open and accountable to citizens and taxpayers.

The Exception Magazine posts a newsletter from Tarren Bragdon, CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center. Bragdon says "Last night, The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Open Government supporters in Maine scored a major victory"

The Village Soup says that the killed bill had labor groups support.

Chris Cinquemani, Public Affairs Director for Maine Leads, a citizen group committed to lower taxes and government transparency, said in the organizations press release, "Elected officials, regardless of their party, have an obligation to protect our right to access public information.  The members of the Judiciary Committee met that obligation, and defended the citizens and taxpayers from an attack on open government."

Read other stories in the Central Maine Morning Sentinel and Seacoast Online.

Listen to MPBN's coverage of the defeated bill and read their coverage here.

An online petition against LD 1353, a bill to hide public employees names from public view, has gathered hundreds of signatures from citizens and taxpayers.

In the comments section of the petition, many have expressed frustration with Maine Democrat leaders, who have co-sponsored this bill..."Any Legislator in favor of LD 1353 is countering the Obama transparency doctrine and would be pandering to their voters instead of looking at the larger picture to do the right thing. I hope that electioneering is behind us and our elected officials would vote for what is right for the entire State of Maine" says one petition signer.

Another petitioner pleads with legislators to take a stand. "I urge my representatives to vote against LD 1353. Maine citizens should know how their taxes are being spent. This information should not be censored."

Included in the list of those signing are State Employees, "I am an employee of the University of Maine so my salary is available for viewing . . . but I believe that tax payers should have access to all state employees salaries, including names, position, etc."

To read more comments click here: Online Petition Comments

To read the entire petition text, click here: Online Petition against LD 1353, a bill to hide Public Employee Salary Information

More video from Thursdays hearing on LD 1353, a bill that would conceal the names of thousands of Maine State employees.

Pem Schaeffer, a resident of Brunswick, expresses his concern regarding LD 1353...

The public hearing on LD 1353, a bill that would hide public employee names from public access and attempt to shut down MaineOpenGov.org, drew a large crowd at the State House Thursday afternoon and into the evening.

(click on the names below to read the written testimony)

Supporters of the bill, six in all, included Senator Lisa Marrache of Waterville, Senator Deb Simpson of Auburn, Timothy Belcher, the Executive Director of the Maine State Employees Association and Bruce Hodsdon, The President of the Maine State Employees Association.

Fifteen people testified in opposition to LD 1353, including Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, Mal Leary, President of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition Jeff Inglis, Managing Editor of the Portland Phoenix, and , Chris Cinquemani, Public Affairs Director at Maine Leads. Also testifying were Pem Schaeffer of Brunswick and the President of Maine Taxpayers United, Gary Foster

As you can watch in the video below, the bills sponsor, Senator Lisa Marrache, contends that posting this public information is dangerous, and that allowing people to comment anonymously on the public information is wrong and there should be government censorship applied.
 
More Video to come later....