September 1987October 1987
November 1987| September 1987 |
Home
Newsletters
October 1987 | November 1987 |
SunshineRhoda Miller reported on the September 22, 1987 meeting of the Sunshine Coalition. Ms. Miller was assigned the task of drawing up a policy statement for the coalition. That statement is as follows: To further the basic principles of Openness in public business, the Sunshine Coalition has been active since 1981. It is concerned with two broad areas: that of public access to information, and government gathering of information. A basic principle of a democracy is that the people are the ultimate decision-makers and participants in public matters, and need to have timely, accurate, relevant, complete and understandable information upon which to form opinions and vote and otherwise participate in public affairs. The Coalition believes that records or meetings should be closed only when highly personal or offensive, intimate information is involved. Another basic principle of democracy is that the gathering of information by government should be responsible, accurate, complete, up to date, and relevant. Government departments should be authorized by law to collect only specified information, and a statement of use should be included. The Sunshine Coalition was formed to up-hold these principles. Its activities include monitoring compliance with state and local privacy, open meetings and open records laws, consideration of legal action when there is apparent violation, and educational efforts, such as public informational seminars.
|
| September 1987 | Home Newsletters | November 1987 |
