April 23, 2006

Last week's actions by Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield point to a disheartening arrogance among a handful of elected officials in Tennessee. By banning city employees from communicating with a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter, who aggressively sought records on a $90,000 lobbying fee the Mayor paid to his former campaign manager out of tax-payer money, Mayor Littlefield flagrantly thumbed his nose at the media, the citizens he was elected to serve and Tennessee's open records law.

Mayor Littlefield's disgraceful justifications for this action, spelled out in his own press release, represent why the Tennessee legislature must pass the "Sunshine In Government Improvement Act of 2006" (SB2471 / HB2495) next week. The needed improvements impose fines for government officials who violate the law and allow the court to force offending government agencies to pay court costs in lawsuits filed to obtain public records.

If it were not for reporter Michael Weber and Tennessee's open records law, there is no telling what lengths Mayor Littlefield and other elected officials will continue to go to operate behind a veil of secrecy away from the average citizen whose business they are supposed to represent.

ACT NOW: On Monday, April 24, 2006, the "Sunshine In Government Improvement Act of 2006" comes up on the Tennessee Senate's calendar, and it is up to the Senate Republican Majority Leader Ron Ramsey to choose which side of open and accountable government he and his party will stand. Despite Ramsey having called the bill "way too stringent," several of his Republican colleagues disagree with their leadership and have signed on as sponsors.

Call your state Senator and urge them to vote FOR this bill (SB2471). Also call your state Representative in the House and ask them to recommend passage of the House companion bill (HB2495) currently on the calendar for Tuesday April 25 on the House State & Local Government Committee.

Also Read:

• Tennessee Government Gets 'F' For Accountability - April 22, 2006
  
• The Cost of Secrecy in Tennessee Government Increases - April 20, 2006
  
• TCOG Responds to Chattanooga Mayor's Actions - April 19, 2006