OPEN OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
(OOGA)!
FACT SHEET FOR OOGA
Background
In 1966 the Federal Government adopted the first Freedom of
Information Act. Eleven years later the
Delaware General Assembly passed Chapter 100, of Title 29 of the Delaware
Code: Freedom of Information Act. The preamble to the act states:
It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed
in an open and public manner so that our citizens shall have the opportunity to
observe the performance of public officials and to monitor the decisions that
are made by such officials in formulating and executing public policy; and
further, it is vital that citizens have easy access to public records in order
that the society remain free and democratic. Toward these ends, and to further
the accountability of government to the citizens of this State, this chapter is
adopted, and shall be construed.
It has been 42 years since the federal law was passed and
31 years since
Senate Bill 4
For the fifth year in
a row the State Senate has a bill pending that would open the General Assembly
as a public body.
SENATE BILL NO. 4
AN
ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
Section 1, Amend
subsection (c), 10002, Chapter 100, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by striking
the last sentence of said subsection befinning with
the word “Public” and ending with the word “committee.”.
SYNOPSIS
This Bill would
include the General Assembly as a “public body” covered by the Freedom of
Information Act.
Author: Senator Peterson
Senate Bill 4 was
introduced in the 144th General Assembly and assigned to the Senate
Executive Committee on January 11, 2007.
It is the successor to two previous bills that were introduced in the
143rd and 142nd General Assemblies. None of these bills have ever been brought to
the floor for a vote.
Sponsors of Senate Bill 4
In addition to
author, Senator Peterson (D-9th District), the following Senators
have signed on as sponsors of this bill:
Senators Bonini
(R-16th District), Bunting (D-20th District), Cloutier (R-5th District), Connor (R-12th
District), Copeland (R-4th District), Marshall (D-3rd District),
McBride (D-13th District), Sokola (D-8th District),
Sorenson (R-6th District).
Status of Senate Bill 4
President Pro Tem
Thurman Adams has assigned SB-4 to the Senate Executive Committee, which he
chairs. The bill has no future unless
and until Senator Adams takes it out of his desk drawer and supports it in his
own committee. Under current Senate
rules there is no requirement that he do this.
The only way to move this legislation is through grassroots, constituent
pressure. The people of
What You Can Do
o
Foremost you need
to write to your Senator. A short note
will do very well. Keep it polite and
respectful in tone, personal attacks will only set back our efforts. Send your letter of support to The Honorable
(Your Senator) at
o
Next, send a
letter to the editor of your local paper.
Ideally these letters will be timed to hit the papers during the first
week of January, but it is important to keep up the drumbeat so even if you are
reading this after the initial thrust you can still make a difference. Talking
points and contact information are attached to this fact sheet.
o
Come to
Open
Our General Assembly
January
8th, 2008 at 2:00PM
Leg Hall-Senate Wing,
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