Lawmakers should roll up their sleeves, drink a few cups of coffee and wade into the complexities of this issue for the sake of open government. Another bill would allow citizens who challenge a government under the Open Meetings Act to recover costs and attorneys fees. The Clarion-Ledger and other news organizations have led several court battles to challenge open meetings offenders, but the average citizen runs the risk of high legal costs. This would make it easier for judges to not only sanction a government body that illegally shuts out the public, but keep it from harming a citizen financially for doing the right thing. It might encourage more people not to just walk away when government officials shut a door in their faces.
Openness improves government.
It is that simple. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service. We welcome your comments. E-mail us .