(Host) Governor Peter Shumlin is backing several plans to help make the operations of state government more transparent to the public.
Shumlin says the steps are needed because it’s important for Vermonters to be able to review decisions made by their elected officials.
(Shumlin) "I have been a firm believer that since government should have nothing to hide a transparency and open government is incredibly important it’s what Vermonters expect and it’s what we intend to deliver in this Administration."
(Host) Shumlin is supporting three specific proposals. The first is to train members of his Administration about the state’s open records law.
(Shumlin) "And therefore does not say to people who inquire about important information about state government sorry I cannot give you that when they should."
(Host) The governor says a special position will be also created in the Secretary of States office to resolve disputes over public records requests.
Shumlin says the third part of the plan is to have the state pay the legal fees of anyone whose access to public records is initially denied but then later approved by a judge.
The Governor says he also wants a special commission to review the more than 200 current exemptions to the state’s open records law to see if some of the exemptions can be eliminated.