Government

Attorney General Abbott Praises Senator Cornyn's Bill Modeling Federal Open Records Law After Texas Law

By Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

February 23, 2005

Bill grounded in presumed democratic openness and public's right to know

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott praised a new bill filed in Congress February 16 by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would more closely model the federal Freedom of Information Act on the Lone Star State’s open records law, known as the Texas Public Information Act.

Attorney General Abbott, a champion for openness at all levels of state and local government, sees Sen. Cornyn’s bill, filed as S. 394, as a welcome endorsement of good government, while still adhering to essential safeguards in the federal homeland security laws.

“To have an enhancement of public records laws at the federal level is a most encouraging sign to me, and I applaud Senator Cornyn for taking this step,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Senator Cornyn has struck a balance between our rights in a free and open society and the realities of national security.”

Sen. Cornyn agreed, saying, “Our default position must be one of openness. If records can be open, they should be open. If there is a good reason to keep something closed, then it is the government that should bear the burden of proof, not the other way around.”

Attorney General Abbott has also thrown his support behind open government bills filed in the Texas Legislature this session that would provide greater accountability in private investment of state pension funds and require open government education for officials who serve as stewards of public records.

Sen. Cornyn, joined by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) in filing the bipartisan bill, proposes to significantly expand the accessibility, accountability and openness of the federal government. The core philosophy presumes openness in a self-governing democratic society – not the public’s “need to know,” but one’s fundamental “right to know.”

The bill is called the OPEN Government Act of 2005, which stands for Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act.

Information on this and other topics is available on the Attorney General's Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

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