« Ind. Courts - Former Judge S. Hugh Dillin dies [Updated] | Main | Ind. Gov't. - Two different approaches to courts v. legislature »
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Law - More on: Kentucky lawmaker would make legislators' communications private
Updating this ILB from March 5th, which included this quote from the Louisville Courier Journal:
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- All e-mails, telephone records and correspondence to and from lawmakers would no longer be public records under a bill filed Monday by state Rep. Rob Wilkey, D-Scottsville.the Lexington Herald-Leader reports today:
FRANKFORT -- The sponsor of a controversial bill that would shield e-mails and other communications between legislators and constituents said yesterday he is shelving the proposal.Rep. Rob Wilkey, a Scottsville Democrat, said he plans to tell lawmakers in a committee meeting next week that he is tabling the bill so it can receive a more thorough vetting over the next year.
His proposal, House Bill 699, would require a lawmaker's permission before his or her e-mails, phone records and other correspondence could be made public.
Wilkey said the bill was meant to put into law what Section 43 of the state's constitution alludes to when it gives the lawmakers privilege of "any speech or debate." He also said it would allow constituents to communicate freely with lawmakers, which is a natural part of the legislative process that must be protected.
But the Kentucky Press Association and several Kentucky newspapers' editorial pages have opposed the bill, arguing that it blocks access to vital sources of information regarding the public's business.
Wilkey said yesterday he has been "castigated" by recent editorials. But he said he believes much of that sentiment stems from the fact that e-mails among Gov. Ernie Fletcher's staff members have played a central role in the ongoing state hiring investigation.
"It's hard to get in stuff like that now when you just came off a year when e-mails were at the heart of an investigation, which is a criminal investigation," he said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 15, 2006 07:57 AM
Posted to General Law Related