After a successful first run of its Holding Power Accountable Forum series in April, Common Cause of Utah tried to avoid a sophomore jinx in the second installment on June 30.  Titled, "Utah's Open Records Law: Can GRAMA Survive in the 21st Century?", Common Cause of Utah put out the word and invited the public to the Salt Lake City Library Thursday for a government records extravaganza.
 
While not the sexiest issue out there, the matter of accessibility to government records constitutes a fundamental feature of open and accountable government.  Utah's Government Records and Management Act (GRAMA) is facing its greatest threat since its inception in 1992.  The state legislature is studying the law in an interim task force, and with the prospect of having to categorize email and other electronic communications as public records, some legislators are all too ready to close down broad categories of important government records to public access.
 
Thanks to our publicity (and with special thanks to the efforts of KCPW, a local NPR affiliate), our attendance on June 30 exceeded that of our first forum, despite the upcoming holiday weekend.  Joining us on the panel for the June 30 event were Joel Campbell,  Assistant Professor of Communications at BYU and co-chair of the Society of Professional Journalist's national Freedom of Information Committee; Jeff Hunt, First Amendment and media lawyer, and founder of the Utah Freedom of Information Hotline; and Frank Nakamura, city attorney of Murray City, and one of the good guys in government supporting the principles of open records.  Also joining us in the audience was State Representative Roz McGee, and one of the original writers of the GRAMA law, Kate Lahey.  The panel was well-received by our audience, and the ensuing discussion received high marks in our evaluation process.  The event was well-covered by Natalie Andrews of the Deseret Morning News.


CC/UT Board members Ed Williams and Kay Brim at the forum

Having gained confidence with 2 successful forums, we hope to set the bar higher for our next effort.  In September (date to be determined), we plan on featuring the work of the Committee on Consumer Services and the role for public advocacy in utility rate-setting.  The issue has been hot since Governor Huntsman unceremoniously sacked its director, Roger Ball, earlier this year.  The Committee also remains in the crosshairs of legislators who are anxious to do the bidding of the large utility companies and kill the role of public advocacy in the regulatory process.  Stay tuned!