Pennsylvania’s Open Records law is a powerful tool for transparency — one that local governments resist as hard as they can.
By Kevin Mooney
Parent alleges school district acted in bad faith to a state senator’s open records request for Covid information
“If government officials aren’t bound by the rule of law, then we are subject to their whims,” a parent said. “This isn’t a left or right issue. This is a matter of fundamental civil rights.”
by Todd Shepherd
Inside the PA Department of Health’s latest public access battle
A Right to Know request for pandemic lockdown-related emails could change the precedent for how specificity requirements are handled in PA courts.
By Leslie Sattler
Delco’s outside legal bills top $2 million for second consecutive year
In 2019, outside spending on attorneys was only about $400,000. In both 2020 and 2021, that spending topped $2 million.
By Todd Shepherd
Citizens battle for open records after Montgomery County proposed thousands in fees
Montgomery County says it is a model for providing transparent Right-to-Know Law requests. Two Delaware Valley citizens argue otherwise in court.
By Todd Shepherd
Kevin Mooney: Bucks County parents unravel Covid-19 policies while boosting school choice proposals
Bucks County parents and taxpayers deserve to be fully informed about the mission of the intermediate units.
By Kevin Mooney
Kyle Sammin: Upper Moreland School District blocking records related to school closure decisions
In response to an open records request by a parent, the district used narrow search terms unlikely to generate meaningful results, and is trying to permanently block handing over other records by taking the request to court.
By Kyle Sammin
Legislation proposed to prohibit Zuckerberg-style private election funding
The move comes less than a day after Broad + Liberty reported that former Sec. of State Kathy Boockvar and a governor’s office staffer sent invitations only to counties that have Democratic voting histories.
By Todd Shepherd
Wolf administration hiding information on how it distributed PPE during pandemic
The Pennsylvania DOH is using the decades-old Disease Control and Prevention Law (DCPL) to shield information on how it purchased and distributed PPE. Transparency advocates argue that the department’s broad use of the DCPL is leaving citizens suspicious.
By Todd Shepherd
Pandemic highlights shortcomings of Pennsylvania’s open records law
News outlets said last week that Pennsylvania’s Department of Health hides behind other state statutes to block the release of COVID-19 data – but it’s far from the only agency or organization to do so.
By Christen Smith