1/ Independence for Oregon’s public records council faces an attack from the association of city governments, @oregoncities. The Public Records Advisory Council’s legislation to insulate the group from politics would be gutted by the cities. #FOIA
olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019I1/Dow…
olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019I1/Dow…
@OregonCities 2/ The former public records advocate resigned over meddling by the governor, leading to legislative plan to have the council hire the public records advocate and declare it an independent agency. @OrGovBrown supported concept. @Oregoncities lobbyist was lone no vote on PRAC.
@OregonCities @orgovbrown 3/ In January, @OregonCities rep stopped PRAC business, suggesting law didn’t allow any matter except hiring new PRA. No prior notice. Move cost the council a month, and DOJ later determined suggestion was wrong.
@OregonCities @orgovbrown 4/ The cities association said it wants to stick with 2017 law creating PRAC. But it doesn’t. It wants a govt. rep to always be co-chair. It wants to strip public records advocate of vote. oregon.gov/pra/Documents/…
@OregonCities @orgovbrown 5/ I serve on PRAC. I took the slot to bring journalism background to the job, but I view my duty to serve broad public interest, not guard my profession. Having a PRAC colleague move to kill needed reforms is troubling. #FOIA
@OregonCities @orgovbrown 6/ @OregonCities is not without influence in Leg. In 2019, it spent $303,000 on lobbying on behalf of cities. PRAC has zero dollars for lobbying. Seems like an unfair gun fight.
