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E-mailKeeping records open
Although the recently enacted state budget contained many painful spending reductions, all Pennsylvanians should be thankful that the new Office of Open Records was given the tools -- via a $240,000 appropriation increase -- to perform its critical mission.
The Office of Open Records, whose budget Senate Republicans proposed cutting, was instead given an increase to $1.25 million -- the amount Executive Director Terry Mutchler said was needed for the office to function effectively in its first full fiscal year of operation.
As author of the House version of the updated open-records law that went into effect Jan. 1, I am proud to remind Pennsylvania taxpayers that this vital office received a 23.7 percent funding increase in the toughest budget year in memory. Without this added funding, the office would have been forced to lay off employees, creating a negative ripple effect that would have restricted citizens' right to know.
The office issues advisory opinions, runs a mediation program to resolve disputes, and governs the appeals procedure when a commonwealth or local government agency denies a request for information.
Those of us who support access and transparency realize that no office will play a more vital role in securing those goals than the Office of Open Records.
Tim Mahoney
Uniontown
The writer is a state representative who represents Fayette County.
