Suggesting lawmakers had acted in haste, Gov. Frank O'Bannon vetoed legislation Thursday that would exempt the General Assembly from the state's open records laws. O'Bannon said the Legislature had made great strides over the past 30 years in opening up the legislative process to public scrutiny, but said the bill should have been considered in greater depth. I do not believe this is a step that should be taken without careful reflection and opportunity for public participation. Last week, O'Bannon vetoed a bill that would have given legislators their first pay raise since 1985. The governor said lawmakers deserved a raise, but not when the state faces a revenue shortfall.
Lawmakers can override the vetoes by simple majorities in both houses.
They could do that if they meet for a technical corrections day later this year, when they convene for an organization day in November, or any time next session. The bill would exempt the House, Senate and the Legislative Services Agency from disclosure laws that govern release of public records and allow the General Assembly to create its own access rules. The issue first arose in a House bill that would have prohibited access to lawmakers' e-mail. Changes made in the Senate later broadened that exemption to cover the full General Assembly. Lawmakers insisted they needed the measure to protect their own privacy and that of constituents, particularly those who write to them with personal problems.