APME pushes recorded votes in Legislature again

In the last regular legislative session the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors pushed for passage of a measure requiring lawmakers to routinely record their votes by name on all non-ceremonial measures.

TAPME, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the League of Women Voters of Texas partnered with The Dallas Morning News and many Texas newspapers to spearhead this effort, which the News launched in 2003.

This year as a new session is gearing up to start in January, APME again is calling on newspapers to bring light to this issue in hopes of getting a bill introduced and winning passage by both the Texas Senate and House.

Texas is one of only 10 states nationwide that doesn’t require legislators to record their votes by name.

Newspapers are encouraged to run news stories and editorials on the importance of recorded votes and accountability for legislators. Log onto www.dallasnews.com/opinion/ and click on “Let the Sun Shine” for more information.

Azle ISD, AG settle open records case

AZLE — The Texas Attorney General’s office has decided to end its quest to force Azle Independent School District to release a document it originally ruled was public information, the Azle News reported.

The newspaper requested a copy of the Azle school board “action plan” for AISD superintendent Dr. Edd Bigbee. The school district sought an attorney general’s opinion and Greg Abbott’s office ruled it should be released. The district then sued to keep the information private, claiming the plan was part of Bigbee’s evaluation, which is confidential under the Texas Education Code.

At a recent school board meeting, Bigbee announced that AISD had reached a settlement with the AG’s office following a ruling in a similar court case in the Third Court of Appeals that said a document evaluating the performance of a teacher or administrator is confidential.

Weatherford confiscates reporter’s notes, paperwork

WEATHERFORD — The Weatherford Democrat is considering its next step after the city of Aledo confiscated notes from a reporter who was covering the issue of a city resolution that quoted the Bible, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The resolution calling for prayer for rain ultimately passed without the religious references.

After the revised version was approved, a city official removed a page of a meeting packet from reporter Christina Childs that contained the original draft.

Democrat Managing Editor Phil Riddle said the page also included Childs’ notes. The paper is considering legal action.

Mayor Kit Marshall said she didn’t know the page contained the reporter’s notes.

Dallas Cowboys won’t release stadium plans

ARLINGTON — The Dallas Cowboys, citing security and business concerns, have not released drawings of their publicly funded $650 million stadium that’s under construction, the Associated Press reported.

The plans should remain confidential under the Texas Homeland Security Act, Cowboys attorneys argue, because releasing them would disclose the stadium’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Citing the Public Information Act, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram requested the plans from the city of Arlington. After the Cowboys declined to release them, the city sent the request to Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is expected to rule by Oct. 24.

Arlington taxpayers will pay for $325 million of the expected price tag through a half-cent sales tax. The city also has issued bonds to raise money for the project. The city used its power of eminent domain to force landowners to sell property for the stadium.

Fort Worth sues AG twice in 1 week

FORT WORTH — The city has taken the unusual step of suing the Texas attorney general’s office twice in the same week in an attempt to avoid releasing city records, a move that an open-government expert said reflects an erosion of Texans’ right to keep an eye on their government.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that city attorneys say the city could be in legal jeopardy if they release the documents, a routine police report in one case and a lawyer’s in another but the AG’s office already has reviewed them and concluded that they should be released to the public.

Houston lawyer Joe Larsen, who specializes in open government government law, questioned the city’s claim.

“What’s the common sense rationale underlying the suit? What’s the city afraid of?” Larsen asked.

Lake Travis district sues record-requesting parents

LAKEWAY — Lake Travis school district officials have sued one student’s parents, claiming the couple has buried the district’s staff in more than 2,200 open records requests, including 329 since the school year started and as many as 238 requests in a 24-hour period, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

In the lawsuit, the district says David and Melissa Lovelace are abusing the law that allows anyone, including reporters, taxpayers and employees, to keep an eye on how public agencies do business.

The couple’s lawyer, an open government expert, said the district is just upset because the Lovelaces have filed complaints against staff for wrongdoing.

Health district moves meeting items around

MCALLEN — The Rio Grande Valley Health Services District might have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act at a recent meeting, two media attorneys told The Monitor.

At the meeting, the board chairman announced that a few items on the open session agenda would be marked for executive session instead. The items included a report on the recent Hidalgo County commissioners court meetings and preparations for a health summit in September.