transparency Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

7 Apr, 2014

Capitol Hill Press Corps asks for Haslam speech schedule
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Capitol Hill Press Corps asks for Haslam speech schedule

transparency

Capitol Hill Press Corps asks for Haslam speech schedule

By Deborah Fisher|2014-05-07T07:25:27-05:00April 7, 2014|Categories: transparency|Tags: Bill Haslam, schedule|0 Comments

From the Associated Press regarding Haslam speech schedule: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps is asking Gov. Bill Haslam to let them know when he is going to make a speech. A letter emailed to Haslam's office on Friday said reporters were aware of at least five events in the previous month that were not listed on Haslam's public schedule. They include speeches to the Tennessee Medical Association and the Tennessee Municipal League. In a response sent Monday, Haslam Director of Communications Alexia Poe said the governor had been available to Tennessee media on 32 of the 68 business days in 2014. She said the governor's [...]

The need for transparency with teeth: A lesson from Chris Christie

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-09T16:54:16-05:00February 6, 2014|Categories: transparency|Tags: Chris Christie, emails, government transparency initiatives|0 Comments

We in Tennessee can learn something from the New Jersey bridge scandal that put Gov. Chris Christie who championed "transparency" now staring down accusations of violating the state's public records laws and otherwise working effectively to keep secret some legitimate information citizens deserve to know. The transparency movement is a good one. And there are great examples of local governments posting all levels of information for citizens, some of it quite useful such as agenda packets for upcoming meetings and financial information that allows citizens to better understand how their local government operates. It should continue and, in Tennessee, some guidance is provided in a recent report by the Tennessee Advisory [...]

How does your local government stack up in transparency?

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-09T16:54:09-05:00February 4, 2014|Categories: transparency|Tags: government transparency initiatives, government websites, legislature|0 Comments

Back in October, a report chock full of information about transparency in local and state governments was released by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Specifically, the report examined public information and data posted on state government websites, as well as sampled several county, city and school system websites for the same. The study had been requested following two bills in 2012 that sought to require state and local governments, including school districts, to post more and specific information on their websites. There were both terrific examples of transparency initiatives as well as some results that might be downright exasperating in the Internet age. The examples from other states [...]