Mr. Lynch Does The Right Thing

You might have missed this. The Governor just vetoed HB 53. HB 53 was a bill proposed by Kimberly Casey (D-Rock 11) and Jim Garrity (D-Rock 6).  Both of them should be run out of the state for even proposing it.

In short, it would alter 91-A (Right to know law) by redefining what a public body is, making it almost impossible for you to find out what your municipal officials were up to.

I wrote this about it back on May 17th.

It means that (as the Union Leader pointed out this morning) "...any records created by a mayor, town manager or department head, and any records created during municipal staff meetings, would arguably be unavailable to the public."

Is that the kind of open government the Democrat majority in the NH House and Senate is promoting? That the state needs to protect the actions of municipalities from the tax payers that support them?

It is. They passed it. So now, in an election year, we get to see if Governor Lynch agrees with them.

Should the State, governor Lynch, use its power to obscure the peoples business from them?

Well it is still exactly the kind of government the democrat majority wanted for you; overly complex and obscure.  But John Lynch, in an election year, just vetoed it. Thank you governor. This is a significant victory for all the people who stood against this bill.

So why is the veto buried on page B2 in a few column inches in the 'In Breif' section? Right to know deserves better, and while I'm no fan of this governor, whatever his reasons he protected the people today. He deserves some credit for that.

Cross Posted At Granite Grok

Comments

[Anon]

But he is still nevertheless, MR WRONG for NH

[Rick Barnes]

It amazes me that it even made it to his desk. Those who voted for this bill should be called out by name and town so people know who to toss out.

[Alan Bailey]

Richard,

Perhaps you can find out who voted for hb53. I understand there were no roll call votes taken. How convenient when deciding Right To Know legislation.

[Steve]

No way to know who voted for what. We can check the Journals for comments before the vote.

[Steve]

Not positive but it looks like 16 bills at the end of session were passed of which HB53 was one of them. Again, not sure. Maybe someone can read this and let me know--scroll all the way to the end, it's the last item on the journal

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/caljourns/journals/2010/houjou2010_06.html