Tag: transparency
Upgrades to Pa. governor’s mansion bankrolled by private group that won’t disclose donors, full cost
A NYC design firm has been hired to refurbish public areas of the residence, but no one will say who is managing the project, raising money for it, or who is paying for it.
4 days ago
New Jersey lawmakers pause open records bill overhaul to consider amendments
The bill's sponsors disputed suggestions that the measure would curtail the public or journalists' ability to obtain records.
2 weeks ago
New Jersey lawmakers fast track bill that could restrict records access under open records law
The bill prohibits the disclosure of any records to data brokers, or commercial interests that collect and sell information provided by government agencies.
2 weeks ago
Secret meetings by board overseeing Pa.’s $1 billion in opioid settlements draw criticism
The oversight board also does not let the public speak at meetings and says it’s not subject to the state’s Right-to-Know Law.
10 months ago
Secrecy is too often the norm in Pennsylvania state and local governments
Some government officials find every reason to delay or deny access to public records, then use taxpayer dollars to fight the public in court. Spotlight PA is fighting back.
1 year ago
N.J. lawmakers move to redact addresses for elected officials from the public record
The Legislature is a step closer to removing a requirement that lawmakers’ addresses be kept private, except for the town and county where they own land.
1 year ago
Trump’s stash of documents shows ‘fragile’ historical record
The discovery of more than a dozen boxes of records at Mar-a-Lago has alarmed historians. It's a reminder of Trump's disregard for maintaining a clear historical record.
2 years ago
Some Pa. lawmakers tout expense transparency. Their websites tell a different story.
Despite claims of transparency, only 18 lawmakers in the 203-member House and 11 in the 50-member Senate post some level of financial information today.
3 years ago
Philly election officials said a contract barred them from releasing transcripts. It didn’t.
Philadelphia’s City Commissioners haven’t been releasing transcriptions of their meetings, saying a contract with their stenographer prevents it. Turns out, it doesn’t.
4 years ago
A decades-old law is shielding the Wolf administration from scrutiny of its coronavirus response
Pa. is denying journalists' requests for COVID-19 data and records using a law authored in the heyday of syphilis.
4 years ago
Gov. Tom Wolf will allow transparency bill to become law despite veto threat
Wolf had argued Grove’s bill was flawed and would endanger state workers by forcing them to return to offices during an emergency, like the current pandemic.
4 years ago
The bill's sponsor and transparency advocates are urging the governor to reconsider.
4 years ago
After promising increased transparency, Philadelphia is redacting police complaint records
The city says the change is necessary to protect officers' identities — and lets it keep up the pace of publishing despite a staff shortage.
5 years ago
With move to expand open-records law pending, most Pa. agencies get few requests
A new study shows that Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know law does not burden public agencies. Still, advocates for the public's right to know say there is room for improvement.
6 years ago
Facebook vows more transparency over political ads
Under pressure in advance of hearings on Russian election interference, Facebook is moving to increase transparency.
6 years ago