Showing posts with label open records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label open records. Show all posts

Friday, March 17, 2017

#BoycottHawaii trending on Twitter, gay tourism study released, state could be dinged by Trump budget, Honolulu rail spared, voter turnout lowest in nation, police set to test body cams, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii pool party at Kona resort © 2017 All Hawaii News
Hawaii won in court over the travel ban Wednesday but found itself in the midst of a social media firestorm Thursday as #BoycottHawaii went viral on President Donald Trump’s favorite platform, Twitter. Star-Advertiser.

After a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Trump’s revised travel ban Wednesday, Trump supporters took to Twitter to call for a boycott of all things Hawaii. Civil Beat.

#BoycottHawaii is a hashtag that’s currently trending on Twitter after a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. KHON2.

Derrick Watson: An Apolitical Judge Caught In A Partisan Firestorm. Acquaintances call the federal judge from Honolulu reserved and unemotional. But he’s under attack from the president and his supporters. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is bringing the preferences, sentiments and profiles of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers out of the closet with the Thursday release of the state’s first commissioned studies for this niche market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's airline industry saw gains in 2016 due to the addition of new routes, though there are huge market opportunities from Asia and Japan, according to independent airline consultancy Ailevon Pacific. Pacific Business News.

New air service to Hawaii in 2017 is expected to bolster Hawaii’s economy by millions of dollars and help the state reach a sixth straight year of record-setting tourism performance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii would stand to lose tens of millions of federal dollars annually that support services for the poor, affordable housing, the environment, local arts and media organizations under President Trump’s 2018 budget outline for discretionary spending released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

President's budget proposal includes significant cuts to Hawaii programs, services. Hawaii News Now.

Trump’s draft budget still includes Honolulu’s rail funds. KITV.

At least 6,000 Hawaii students — including more than 1,000 on the Big Island — could be without after-school care if President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 fiscal budget were to take effect as is. Tribune-Herald.

The East-West Center is listed among the Trump administration’s programs that would be eliminated under the president’s proposed budget cuts. Pacific Business News.

How Trump’s proposed budget could affect agencies, programs in Hawaii. KHON2.

For the fifth presidential election in a row, Hawaii had the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation, with only 43 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, according to a study. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers: Mail-in voting can improve Hawaii’s low voter turnout. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of people with developmental disabilities thronged the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate 30 years of progress toward self-determination and to push for adequate funding. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Air Force this week hosted allies and partners in Hawaii for a symposium on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which can sneak undetected behind enemy radar. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail board approved nearly $15 million in additional change orders Thursday — the latest tranche of money to help cover changes to construction contracts that project leaders have said the city issued prematurely. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department hopes to have patrol officers in at least one of its districts equipped with body cameras by the end of the year under a pilot project, HPD officials told the City Council Budget Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A Kakaako street will be closed Saturday as the city begins construction of a new protected bike lane. Hawaii News Now.

Nineteen-year-old Christian Gutierrez, one of three people charged with slaughtering Laysan albatrossess at Kaena Point in 2015, agreed to a plea deal Thursday in Circuit Court. Civil Beat.

The Grand Islander, a 38-story Hawaii time-share property by Hilton Grand Vacations, is at 99 percent occupancy just two weeks after opening in Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Much of the Akaka Falls State Park trail system remains closed to visitors until further notice. The upper portion of the trail between the Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls overlooks was damaged accidentally in February during the removal of trees. Tribune-Herald.

Rain and snowfall continue to replenish Lake Waiau, keeping the alpine lake that sits some 13,000 feet above sea-level atop Mauna Kea nearly full or full for more than two years. West Hawaii Today.

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal has died after wandering into a net pen and becoming trapped at a fish farm that was partially funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Hawaii. Associated Press.

West Hawaii Today senior reporter Nancy Cook Lauer earned the Big Island Press Club’s Torch of Light award for her work on breaking the story surrounding former-Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of a county-issued pCard. West Hawaii Today.

Press Release: The Big Island Press Club presented its annual Torch of Light Award to reporter Nancy Cook Lauer for shining a light on a credit card scandal involving former Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, who received the group’s Lava Tube dishonor award for keeping the public in the dark.

Maui

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing on 113.5 percent sewer rate increases for 880 residential, business and government customers in Pukalani will begin at 6 p.m. today in Pukalani Elementary School’s cafeteria. Maui News.

The developer of a proposed project below Wailuku Heights that called for 147 residential lots, 450 multifamily units, a park and commercial area has nixed the project, according to a filing with the state Land Use Commission. Maui News.

Almost 280 people live in the Front Street Apartments, an affordable housing complex in Lahaina on Maui’s western shore. In two and a half years, their rents will convert to market rates if state lawmakers don’t take action to keep the 142 units affordable. Civil Beat.

Waiehu Golf Course Pro Shop co-owner Catherine Cordeiro holds a stack of petitions against Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to shut down the municipal course. Maui News.

State House budget approved; moves to Senate for review. Proposed funding for Maui County airport improvements, ag park, flood damage included. Maui News.

Kauai

Fixing roads, freezing county vacancies, raising property taxes and establishing a special reserve fund are some of Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.’s goals for the coming fiscal year. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are a step closer to being able to legally access an area in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Award-winning documentary features pesticide use on Kauai. Garden Island.

Seven aircraft tour companies on Kauai are staffing a help line available for the public to report complaints about low-flying aircraft and noise issues relating to air tour operators. Garden Island.

A new study provided the first rigorous population estimate of an endangered bird species found only on Kauai. Garden Island.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Gender gap at Honolulu Hale, groups fight public record restrictions, Honolulu council bans plastic bags, Kauai leads state in income growth, Kahuku now top landfill site, securities chief resigns amid probe, monk seal killings spark new reward, Hawaii Island pool drains behind the times, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Hale (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Men and women work different jobs at Honolulu Hale, and the men's jobs pay more. Civil Beat.

House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro and Senate Ways and Means Chair David Ige indicated conferrees have come to agreement on the operating side of the budget — but are still working toward a deal on the capital improvements portion of the budget. Civil Beat.

A range of organizations – from the Sierra Club to the Hawaii Independent – are petitioning legislators to protect government transparency. More than a dozen community, media and open-government organizations are waging a desperate fight today to save Hawaii’s Freedom of Information Law from its most serious erosion in its 24-year history. Hawaii Independent.

Lawmakers are poised to include $25 million for student transportation in the supplemental budget bill for next fiscal year, $17 million shy of what the Department of Education said it needed to preserve school bus services statewide. Star-Advertiser.

The state Legislature will be voting on Hawaiian language mandates in the coming week. KHON2.

Duane "Dog" Chapman and Beth Chapman seek to derail the Abercrombie administration's "Justice Reinvestment" initiative, a data-driven approach to reforming Hawaii's criminal justice system, which would include freeing up prison space. Civil Beat.

As contract negotiations continue between the state and its public school teachers, a newly adopted teacher evaluations policy remains a sticking point. Tribune-Herald.

State lawmakers reached agreement today on a bill requiring motorists to "move over" when approaching a traffic or crime scene where emergency responders are working. Star-Advertiser.

Peter Hsieh has resigned as chief attorney in the state Securities Enforcement Branch after the state began an investigation of his past professional and financial problems. Hawaii Reporter.

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have cautioned Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that an agreement between the U.S. and Japan over transferring more than 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, Hawaii and other locations should not be considered final without congressional approval. Pacific Business News.

The Oahu group that’s fighting the new legislative maps has asked a federal judge to halt the upcoming election until new districts can be drawn. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday passed a bill that would impose a fee on plastic bags retailers and restaurants provide to customers before banning them altogether effective July 1, 2015. Pacific Business News.

Oahu consumers will have until summer 2015 to get used to the idea of not getting a plastic bag when they shop at a grocery store or other retailer. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu could soon become the fourth and final county in Hawaii to implement a ban on single-use plastic checkout bags. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed a bill today to ban single-use shopping bags on O’ahu in 3 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu is the only county in the state not to regulate plastic shopping bags, but now the city council has approved the plan to ban plastic shopping bags and some paper bags as well. Hawaii News Now.

A much-debated ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags was passed Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council, but if signed into law by Mayor Peter Carlisle, the ban would not take effect until July 1, 2015. KITV4.

A correction to a consultant's "data error" has upended the city's recently announced list for potential landfill sites, catapulting two upland Kahuku locations to the top spots while knocking the previous No. 1, Ameron Quarry in Kailua, halfway down the ranking. Star-Advertiser.

A military site in Kahuku has replaced a Kailua quarry as Honolulu's top choice for a new landfill. But that doesn't mean Kailua should start celebrating. Civil Beat.

People in Kailua are breathing a collective sigh of relief while people from Kaneohe to Haleiwa shudder at the latest news regarding a new landfill. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a plan to make an extra $450 million available for Honolulu's rail line in case the project runs out of money because of some unexpected mishap or disaster during construction. Star-Advertiser.

North Shore residents were given a big Wednesday announcement they were not expecting, that Kahuku and Pupukea are now top of the list for the City's next potential landfill sites. KHON2.

Honolulu's City Council split a vote, four to four, in a resolution that would have urged the State Legislature and the Food and Drug Administration to mandate labels of genetically modified food. KITV4.

State health officials inspected a two mile area along Kea'ahala stream today, from Kahukipa down to Kaneohe Bay. KITV4.

Hawaii

Concerns about an Elections Division in disarray have prompted Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi to ask the state Office of Elections to intercede. Among the problems, Onishi said Wednesday, are clerks not qualified to accept state filings, voter lists for candidate campaigns delayed until June and longtime volunteers bowing out because of controversies over Elections Office firings. West Hawaii Today.

The county Department of Parks and Recreation is finally complying with a federal law mandating the replacement of swimming pool drain covers by December 2008. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council could soon be discussing new legislation aimed at protecting Big Island residents from geothermal power plant leaks and blowouts. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission approved a county special use permit Tuesday for Verizon Wireless to install a 35-foot-high pole and cellular antenna - disguised as a palm tree - on agricultural land mauka of the Waiehu Golf Course. Maui News.

Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case said he's not afraid to tell people things he feels they need to hear, even if he and his campaign for U.S. Senate draw fire for it. Maui News.

A special native Hawaiian initiative is seeking the help of volunteers around the world to typescript thousands of pages of Hawaiian-language newspapers into a searchable database. Maui Now.

Kauai

The head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources described the latest monk seal death as a "despicable act" as the reward for information grew to $40,000. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian monk seal was found killed on Kauai over the weekend, officials said Wednesday, bringing to four the number of suspicious deaths for the critically endangered species in six months.Associated Press.

Foul play is again suspected in the second death of a Hawaiian monk seal found on Kaua‘i this year, with the latest victim discovered Sunday, authorities said Wednesday. Garden Island.

The personal income of Kauai residents increased 3.7 percent in 2010 from 2009 on a per capita basis, the fastest growth rate of any county in the state, the federal government reported Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Owners of transient vacation rental properties, also known as TVRs, will now have to pay commercial rates for county trash collection services, the county Public Works Department reported Wednesday. Garden Island.


Friday, March 16, 2012

Spotlight on Sunshine Week: Gov. Neil Abercrombie 'wins' Lava Tube award


(News release) The Big Island Press Club this week gave Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie the dubious honor of naming him the recipient of the club's 15th annual Lava Tube award for a number of his actions last year. Like the lava tube itself, the award recognizes the year’s most notable offense for keeping the public in the dark.
The Press Club also honors the best efforts to promote openness in Hawaii with the Torch of Light award, which is also presented annually since 1997. The Torch of Light was awarded this year to the Judicial Selection Commission for releasing the names of Abercrombie's judicial nominees when he refused. An Honorable Mention went to the Star-Advertiser for its efforts, including litigation, to obtain release of the names.
It takes only one "indictment" for an elected or appointed official, commission or board to be dishonored with the Lava Tube, but, in Abercrombie's case, BIPC settled on two:
  •  Abercrombie refused to name his list of nominees to fill a state Supreme Court vacancy, forcing the Star-Advertiser to sue, saying the secrecy violated the state's Uniform Information Practices Act. The state Supreme Court agreed. When the Office of Information Practices -- the state's watchdog agency charged with overseeing open records and public meeting laws -- opined in the Star-Advertiser's favor, Abercrombie replaced the agency's acting director.
  •  The governor created, in secret, an emergency declaration suspending for five years dozens of regulations protecting shoreline access, historic preservation, air and water quality and other environmental and land use laws in order to begin removing military ordnance with no notice to the public.
The Lava Tube award is announced each year on March 16, Freedom of Information Day, honoring the birthday of James Madison. Born in 1751, Madison was author of the U.S. constitution and the foremost advocate for openness.
"Freedom of Information Day is a great reminder that the public's right to know is just that, a right. It should not and will not be compromised," said BIPC President Yisa Var. "The Big Island Press Club is happy to use these awards as a way to bring into the foreground those governing bodies that have done the best and the worst at upholding this freedom."
Established in 1967, BIPC is Hawaii's oldest continuously active press club. Learn more at http://bipc.wordpress.com/.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Spotlight on Sunshine Week: A down-and-dirty how-to on top sites for recent actions of the Hawaii Legislature from Honolulu blogger Ian Lind

Courtesy national Sunshine Week


It's national Sunshine Week, and it's a good time to check out what the Hawaii Legislature is up to.

Honolulu blogger Ian Lind has come up with some suggestions and shortcuts as the Legislature passes its midway mark on its legislative session.

Among them: 

    • A digest of bills that survived first crossover

    • Detailed budget worksheets

    • Provisos tucked away in the executive budget.

    • Applications for Grants-in-aid submitted by nonprofit groups looking for state funding.

Sure, you could Google them, but Lind adds a few hints along the way at his blog.

Lind, a former newspaper reporter, has also served in the government, political and nonprofit sectors ranging from Neil Abercrombie to Common Cause, and was one of the first in Hawaii to establish himself as a political blogger.

You can always find him on our bloglist to the right, or subscribe on his site.



Sunday, March 11, 2012

Sunshine Week: Because you have a right to know

Sunshine Week courtesy cartoon
Is your tap water safe to drink? Do your elected officials pay the same property taxes that you do?

Do your tax dollars go for needed municipal benefits, or is the money spent on bloated government salaries and pricy junkets? Is your congressional representative responding to the electorate or is he or she acting at the behest of special interests?

You have a right to know.

"Wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government," said Thomas Jefferson. "Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."

That is the premise behind open government and freedom of information, and it's celebrated annually during national Sunshine Week. This year, it starts today, March 11.

Open government and freedom of information is not just for the press. Every citizen has the right to question the government, attend meetings and request records.

Two Honolulu events will mark the week for Hawaii.


"Sunshine and the Social Web: Citizen Power through New Media Tools," a panel discussion sponsored by Media Council Hawaii and Common Cause Hawaii, will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at The GreenHouse, 685 Auahi Street, Honolulu.

It features a panel discussion with:
•    Hawaii State Senator Les Ihara, Jr.
•    Ikaika Hussey, Publisher of The Hawaii Independent
•    Patti Epler, Deputy Editor at Civil Beat
•    Larry Geller, Blogger at Disappeared News
•    Kory Payne, Partner at Hawaii Policy Portal

Media mergers have limited the number of professional journalists working in Hawaii today. Coverage of public offices and issues has suffered while citizen interest remains. Can social media and citizen journalism fill the content void and ensure we have the information needed for a healthy democracy?  How can citizens use technology to promote government transparency and public engagement?  Panelists will help answer these questions and others on government transparency. RSVP by emailing info@mediacouncil.org or call 275-6275.

“In an age of merging media and evolving technology, how can we best equip the public to take an active role in the legislative process, and ensure that policy-making is done in transparency? By hosting informative discussion sessions to address and explore these issues, our groups are working in concert to empower everyday citizens -- encouraging them to stay engaged in the legislative process, think critically about the policy-decisions being made, and hold those in power accountable,” Carmille Lim, League of Women Voters of Hawaii board member, said in a statement.

"Democracy Under the Influence: Sunshine Workshop," sponsored by Common Cause Hawaii, Kanu Hawaii and League of Women Voters of Hawaii, starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at the YWCA Laniakea Room 307, 1040 Richards Street, Honolulu.

"In honor of Sunshine Week, this month’s meetup is a “Sunshine Workshop” to shine the light on campaign and lobbying data," said Love. "In this discussion, we’ll share findings on the biggest campaign donors and lobbying spenders, explore patterns between campaign contributions and legislation, and show you how to conduct your own online research to discover the links between money and policy." RSVP by emailing democracyundertheinfluence@gmail.com or call 275-6275.

Are you a 'Ray of Sunshine'?

The popular Sunshine Week Ray of Sunshine game is back with all-new questions for 2012.

Take the quiz and wear the victory badge on your own site and Facebook page.


Monday, February 20, 2012

End of earmarks: Hawaii Legislature considers streamlining, revenue enhancers. Teachers edge toward contract. Secrecy in government, mixed martial arts, wind power, electric cars and other news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
State House members are moving a package of related bills — what they are calling a matrix — to position Hawaii for economic recovery. Star-Advertiser.

Organizations and agencies in Hawaii that have relied on federal funding through earmarks are making painful adjustments, including layoffs, as the loss of $321 million settles in across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

The union representing Hawaii's public school teachers has reached a tentative agreement on a key element of the state's Race to the Top grant that has recently been put in jeopardy because of unsatisfactory progress on promised reforms. Associated Press.

For nearly a decade, the state has automatically deleted emails on computers in the Hawaii governor's office and all administration departments after just 60 days. Civil Beat.

Spending by so-called independent-expenditure-only committees in Hawaii is nearly impossible to track. But that could change this year if the state's campaign finance watchdog agency gets its way. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering changes to mixed martial arts laws so that other disciplines that use striking can be held to the same safety requirements as mixed martial arts. KITV4.

A Creeping Attempt To Shut Down Hawaii Court Records. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Honolulu attorney Lorraine Akiba to serve as a commissioner on Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

The lowest gasoline prices in Hawaii, at discount stations on Oahu, are now more than $4 a gallon, while gasoline is now selling for well over $5 a gallon on Molokai. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for Feb. 20. Associated Press.

Oahu
Pearlridge Center on Sunday opened the first in a series of electric vehicle charging stations that will let people charge their vehicles for free while they shop, a feature that will be provided at Kahala Mall on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

First Wind broke ground Friday on construction for Kawailoa Wind, Hawaii's largest wind project, with 69 MW, or enough power for 14,500 homes. Hawaii Reporter.

A California company with ties to the development of Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk has bought land in Waikiki previously slated for a hotel, time share or residential condominium tower. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 30,000 people are registered to participate in the Great Aloha Run Monday. KHON2.

Hawaii


Moisture and sub-freezing temperatures brought a wintry mix of snow and rain to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa summits, causing delight along with danger and a road closure Sunday. Stephens Media.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono spent roughly 25 minutes Sunday wandering Alii Drive, where she perused merchandise, met residents, posed for photos, and talked story with vendors at the Kokua Kailua Village Stroll. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County's next budget unveiling is just around the corner, but Mayor Billy Kenoi is still a bit coy about the plan's likely provisions. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii at Hilo students who live on campus told the Tribune-Herald on Sunday that they would be willing to pay higher housing fees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its comprehensive conservation plans to guide management of its Kealia Pond and Kakahai'a national wildlife refuges for the next 15 years. Maui News.

Maui County Council members advanced bills Friday to spend money on water projects, to complete construction of a veterans center on Molokai and to help fund affordable housing projects. Maui News.

When Randy Piltz was a candidate for Maui mayor in 2010, one of his major themes was the need for improvements to the permitting process. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. joined Kaua‘i students and county workers to help feed homeless people on the island. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank set a goal for this year’s Island Wide Spring Food Drive at $100,000 and 100,000 pounds of food for Kaua‘i’s hungry. Garden Island.


Monday, March 16, 2009

Hawaii isn't all about sunshine

Hawaii isn’t the best or the worst, but is smack in the middle of a recent report rating states on the openness of government documents.

The Sunshine Week 2009 Survey of State Government Information ranked Hawaii 26th in the list of 50 states, based on online access to a range of government reports. Hawaii provided 11 of the 20 reports studied. Texas ranked first, providing all 20 of the reports. Mississippi ranked last, providing only four.

The state was ranked high for posting details such as statewide school test data, political campaign contributions and expenses, disciplinary actions against physicians, audit reports, teacher certifications, fictitious business name registrations, database of expenditures, consumer complaints, personal financial disclosure reports and school inspection and safety records.

But Hawaii lost points for not providing disciplinary actions against attorneys, environmental citations and violations, nursing home inspection reports, bridge inspection and safety reports, child care center inspection reports, hospital inspection reports, school bus inspections, gas pump overcharge records and death certificates.

Researchers noted that The state Ethics Commission Web site posts multiyear disclosure PDF files for state representatives, senators, the governor and lieutenant governor, members of the Board of Education, trustees and administrators of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, department heads and their deputies, and judiciary administrators, but the courts do not post disclosures for judges.

"Digital technologies can be a great catalyst for democracy, but the state of access today is quite uneven," Charles N. Davis, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, said in a statement. "The future of Freedom of Information is online access, and states have a long way to go to fulfill the promise of electronic self-governance."

Among the major findings:
The information least likely to be found online were death certificates, found on the Web sites of only five states, and gas pump overcharge records, available online in eight. Also infrequently posted online were schools' building inspections and/or safety ratings, which are posted by only nine states, and school bus inspection reports, which only 13 states posted online.

Information most frequently found online were statewide school test scores and DOT projects/contracts, online in 50 and 48 states, respectively. Close behind was campaign data, reported in 47 of the 50 states; disciplinary actions against medical physicians, 47 states; and financial audits, 44 states.

Death certificates are apparently a revenue source for many states, as they charge relatives and "legitimately" interested parties for copies of the records, or farm out the work to a third-party service such as VitalChek. Some states provide historical access online to older death certificates, mostly prior to 1960, although there generally is a fee for hard copies.

The results were released Sunday at the start of Sunshine Week 2009, which runs March 15-21. The study was developed by Sunshine Week, the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Freedom of Information Committee, the National Freedom of Information Coalition, and the Society of Professional Journalists' FOI Committee.

"This study shows that, while a lot of government information is available online, many states lag in providing important information that people care about," David Cuillier, Freedom of Information Committee chairman for the Society of Professional Journalists, said in a statement. "People should be able to find inspection records for their schools online. And the government shouldn't be charging people for death certificates and other records."

The state government surveys were conducted by newspaper and broadcast journalists, journalism students, state press associations, and reporters and editors from The Associated Press. Several participants went the extra cyber-mile and helped complete surveys outside their own states.

"This is the first comprehensive survey of its kind," said ASNE FOI Committee Co-chair Andrew Alexander. "It tells us that many states understand that digitizing public records is key to open government in the 21st century. But it also tells us that, with a few exceptions, states have a long way to go before they become truly transparent.

"We know that providing public records in digital form is the right thing to do for citizens. But it's also the smart thing to do," added Alexander, who is ombudsman for The Washington Post. "With state budgets under considerable stress, providing public records in digitized form is less costly because it doesn't require a human to process each request for information."

Another crumbling infrastructure

By Edwin Bender

Our democracy's infrastructure is crumbling, just as our roads, water systems and sewers are deteriorating across the country — and we have a unique opportunity now to fix them all properly.

I'll leave the roads and such to the engineers. The infrastructure of our democracy, though, is something I know a thing or two about. You see, more than 16 years ago, I and a few other hearty souls across the country began compiling state-level campaign-finance data and making it available to the public.

We created databases by performing thousands of search-and-replace functions on 700-page Word documents that had been input at state agencies. And, even more time-consuming, we input donor information from innumerable paper reports that candidates had filed at their state disclosure agencies. And we made all this available to reporters via floppy disc and fax.

Then along came the Internet, and we happily upgraded our delivery system. But to this day, we still have to type in data by hand, because many candidates still file paper forms with state disclosure agencies. Can you believe it? In this day and age! What a waste of time.

The lack of uniform disclosure for the 50 states is a failure by design. Fragmented campaign-finance reporting means it's more difficult for people to follow the actions of their elected representatives — otherwise known as holding them accountable. Many candidates don't want you getting too familiar with their donor base. And lobbyists certainly don’t want you looking over their shoulders, especially when their actions might cost you money as a taxpayer.

We disagree with that. We think democracy works best when all aspects of campaigns are held up to the light of day. At the nonprofit, nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics, we’ve compiled campaign-finance data from all 50 states dating back to the 2000 elections, as well as donor information for state party committees and ballot measures.

And we’ve compiled a list of lobbyists registered in the states for 2006 and 2007. We update all our data continuously. In fact, we’re on a first-name basis with staff in all 50 state disclosure offices, who for the most part are public servants eager to do good work. They love seeing their work contributed to the data tools and analyses we offer at www.FollowTheMoney.org. To them, we tip our hats.

To the candidates who seem to think that funding public disclosure and ethics agencies is optional, we offer a Bronx salute. You don't have to look far to find examples of a disclosure agency fining a state political party or candidate for bundling or other breach of the public's trust, and you'll likely see the agency's budget on the cutting block next legislative session (Washington state and Alaska offer some sad examples.)

Since lawmakers themselves aren't eager to move disclosure into the 21st century, a host of nonprofit organizations are doing the work for citizens and displaying the results for free access. For our part, we built a tool called Lobbyist Link that lets you see which companies hired lobbyists and in which states, and where those companies also made political donations. (For instance, type "Merck" into our search window and you’ll see plenty of coordinated lobbying and donations in the states that considered the HPV vaccine for schools.)

Our L-CAT feature reveals who gave to specific state legislative committee members, and how much. For example, (big surprise) it turns out that insurance companies are major donors to members of the 2008 Illinois Senate Insurance Committee.

There is tremendous work being done by nonprofit organizations for Sunshine Week to create an index of all public information held by government agencies, at all levels. Project Vote Smart compiles biographical information about lawmakers, their speeches and voting records for the public, and makes it all available at their site, www.VoteSmart.org. The Center for Responsive Politics tracks donations to presidential and congressional candidates as well as national party committees at www.OpenSecrets.org. Many others are looking at government subsidies and contracts, earmarks and corporate influence.

Unfortunately, we nonprofits are doing what we as taxpayers are already paying government agencies to do. (And we do realize those agencies often are between a rock and a hard place because of their budgets.)

So, now, when this country is set to invest billions of dollars on infrastructure projects meant to stimulate a horribly mismanaged economy, isn't it time we also invest in bringing the infrastructure of our democracy up to the 21st century? We aren’t talking rocket science. We’re talking standards that are common in the business world, where accurate, lightning-fast transactions are the norm.

President Obama has committed himself to transparency and accountability: He was co-sponsor of a 2006 federal law that created USASpending.org, which provides detailed federal spending lists, and the Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008 that addressed problems at USASpending.org.

That's a start. And it only makes sense. If we’re going to promote democracy around the world, shouldn’t we also promote its health at home?

Bender is executive director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Helena, MT