Freedom Of Information Act Archives - We Find All The BS In Politics

Arkansas

Arkansas lawmakers question governor’s lectern purchase, potential law violations found in audit • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas lawmakers questioned representatives of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin on Tuesday in light of Monday’s audit report that highlighted several potential breaches of state law in the $19,000 purchase of a lectern for Sanders’ office last year. The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee heard the report and voted with no dissent […]

Arkansas

Audit report finds several potential breaches of Arkansas law in governor’s $19K lectern purchase • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Legislative Audit’s report on the $19,000 purchase of a lectern for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office found several instances of “potential noncompliance” with state law and has been sent to the state attorney general and Pulaski County’s prosecuting attorney. Members of Sanders’ staff used a state-issued credit card to buy the lectern and a […]

Arkansas

Arkansas AG claims purchasing laws do not apply to governor, days before release of lectern audit • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin released an opinion Wednesday, at Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request, declaring that certain executive branch officials such as the governor are not subject to certain laws that regulate purchases by government entities. Sanders’ request and Griffin’s response came just days before lawmakers are expected to release the results of Arkansas […]

Arkansas

Arkansas Corrections Board plays fast and loose with open meetings law • Arkansas Advocate

Imagine a handful of journalists gathered in a small conference room at Department of Corrections headquarters in North Little Rock, their attention focused on an old business telephone on a small table as they strain to hear the disembodied and often unidentified voices of Board of Corrections members and staff emanating from the device. That’s […]

Arkansas

Arkansas voters might decide future of state’s freedom of information law in November

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Petitions for two Freedom of Information ballot initiatives are gaining traction in the lead up to November’s election—if they receive the signatures needed, Arkansans will be able to decide if they want to enshrine Arkansas’ FOIA law in the state constitution with an amendment…as well as make changes to the existing […]

Arkansas

What are possible ballot measures for Arkansas’ 2024 election?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — In the past couple of years, Arkansas has seen changes made to the state’s Freedom of Information Act, abortion rights, education and more. This pushed organizations to create measures for Natural State voters to decide what they want in the November 5 election. In Arkansas, a ballot measure has to be […]

Arkansas

let the sunshine in • Arkansas Advocate

Good news and less than good news from Helena-West Helena comes as we mark Sunshine Week, an annual observance of the need to protect your right to know. First, the good news: Helena World publisher Andrew Bagley reports his newspaper has reached a settlement with the state-run Helena-West Helena School District over access to surveillance […]

Arkansas

Auditor: Report on Arkansas governor’s lectern purchase should be finished in March

Arkansas’ chief legislative auditor expects to complete a report on the investigation of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ purchase of a $19,000 lectern by the end of next month, but it’s unclear when the report will be made public. Auditors began investigating the controversial purchase immediately upon approval from the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee on Oct. […]

Arkansas

Arkansas AG approves proposed FOIA changes; supporters plan to start gathering signatures soon

Arkansas government transparency advocates expect to begin collecting signatures this week for two proposed ballot measures meant to make government records and meetings more accessible to the general public. On Monday, Attorney General Tim Griffin certified ballot language for a proposed set of changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The decision came less […]

Arkansas

Group will submit fourth proposed Arkansas FOIA change to AG’s office after third rejection

A government transparency group will send a fourth draft of proposed changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act after Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected its third proposal on Thursday. In his opinion, Griffin cited a “misleading provision” of the text of the proposed act and ballot title. Previous submissions contained the same problem that […]