2 state senators, state representative pledge to support open government legislation

State Sens. Roger Ballenger of Okmulgee and Andrew Rice of Oklahoma City this week pledged to "support legislation to strengthen the letter and the spirit" of Oklahoma's open government laws if re-elected in November.

The two Democrats are the first incumbents in the Senate to sign the Open Government Pledge since FOI Oklahoma began distributing it prior to the 2008 elections.

State Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, also became the first House incumbent to sign the pledge for a second time, having done so in 2008.

In signing the pledge, Dank, Ballenger and Rice promised "to support at every opportunity the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government so that they can efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power."

FOI Oklahoma began the Open Government Pledge as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.

Instructions and a list of signers for the 2010 elections can be found on FOI Oklahoma’s website.

Founded in 1990, FOI Oklahoma Inc. is a statewide organization actively supporting those organizations and individuals working to open records or provide access to meetings illegally closed. The organization's Board of Directors includes attorneys, educators, elected officials, journalists, librarians and private citizens.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications

Legislator withdraws bill restricting access to autopsy records

State legislators won't be voting again this session on a bill that would have restricted access to portions of homicide autopsy reports.

Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle, pulled HB 3155 because of stiff opposition on the House floor, The Oklahoman reported today.

Versions of the bill had passed the House and Senate. Osborn said the revised measure being considered Monday was intended to cover only homicides in which law enforcement officials "are grasping at straws" and have little evidence pointing to a suspect, The Oklahoman reported

Among those who seemed critical of the bill during an hour-long debate Monday were Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, and Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City. Both legislators had signed FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge during their most recent campaigns.

Of the 12 House members who have signed the Pledge, only Lamons -- a former Tulsa police officer -- voted against the original bill when it passed the House in March.

In April, this blog noted examples of the press and public using autopsy reports elsewhere to uncover incompetency and corruption by police, medical examiners and coroners.

But Osborn told The Oklahoman she might introduce another version of the bill next year even though a similar measure had also stalled during last year's legislative session.

Let's hope not. As evidenced elsewhere, the public has a legitimate need to know the details of autopsy reports involving homicides or when the manner of death is unknown.

Joey Senat, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

OSU School of Journalism