Open records win
Score one for the people of Colorado
I am so excited to report an open records win in Colorado today!
For the past three legislative sessions, a bill that would have given government MORE time to fill records requests has been debated. The bill’s sponsors say escalating public records requests are an onerous burden on stressed state and local government staff that require legislative relief. Up until today, the bill has been met with overwhelming support from Colorado lawmakers
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Last year, that bill passed both the house and the senate but failed to become a law only because of a veto by Governor Polis. Bill sponsors vowed to bring it back this session.
That brings us to today when the same sponsors shared the bill in a committee hearing, anticipating the same level of support this year.
Journalists, citizens, and open government organizations testified against the bill. Those representing government entities, special districts, and school districts testified in support of it.
In the end, the bill died. It will not move forward. I will let Jeff Roberts, Director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition write about today’s hearing and how this is a giant win for open government in Colorado. Jeff’s story
But after watching the testimony and discussion about the bill, I will share my thoughts.
Those who testified in support of the bill talked about how the Colorado Open Records Act is hard on the government. They talked about the impact on government workers who have other duties that take precedence over making Colorado government more transparent. Not one person in support of the bill talked about how extending the timeline to fill requests could benefit the public. In fact, not one citizen testified in support of the bill.
Many supporters shared data about a sharp increase in the use of CORA by Coloradans trying to access information kept by our government. I find it ironic that an increase in the public’s desire to know more about what is happening in their government is met by that same government with the attitude that “this is too hard; you need to lay off and change the law to make it easier for us.”
Before voting, one lawmaker said she was voting “no” because she doesn’t want to give any semblance of a perception that she in any way stands for keeping Coloradans from information that is public.
It laid bare for me, and should for you, who is really representing the people of Colorado.
We all should thank the CFOIC, the Colorado Broadcasters Association, League of Women Voters, Colorado Common Cause and the reporters, editors, and citizens who spoke out against this bill. They all took the time to testify in person or remotely even though they, too, have other jobs to do. They proudly represented all Coloradans and showed the government who really owns the records they keep.