Indianapolis Business Journal. March 22, 2024.
Editorial: Holcomb’s decision to sign bill gutting access law is disappointing
IBJ and other media organizations were disappointed to see Gov. Eric Holcomb sign a bill into law that weakens the Office of the Indiana Public Access Counselor, an agency that helps interpret open meeting and public access laws for the public, media and government officials.
House Bill 1338 was the last piece of legislation the governor signed this year, leading government watchdogs and media organizations to think he might veto the bill and send it back to the Legislature for reconsideration. A veto probably wouldn’t have mattered, anyway. Lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority, the same simple majority needed to approve the bill in the first place.
Still, a veto would have sent a clear signal that government transparency is important in Indiana.
On the opposite page, you can read a Viewpoint column from Dave Arland, executive director of the Indiana Broadcasters Association, who laments that the law puts the public access counselor “on notice as a political appointee.”
We agree and share the group’s frustrations.
Under previous law, the counselor was appointed for four years and could be fired only “for cause.” The new law amends that provision to say the counselor serves “at the pleasure of the governor.” That change could make it much more difficult for the counselor to rule against the Governor’s Office or an agency in the governor’s administration that is failing to follow the law.
In addition, the new law limits what the access counselor can use in producing non-binding advisory opinions. And as we wrote in an editorial earlier this month urging a veto, the last part of that sentence is key: These are non-binding advisory opinions. The public access counselor can’t order anyone to do anything.
Still, for the non-binding opinions, the law now requires that the counselor use only the “plain text” of the state’s public access laws and court opinions. “Not even a dictionary” is an acceptable tool in making a decision, writes Niki Kelly, editor-in-chief of the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
The law removes any ability for the access counselor to interpret those laws or opinions as technology changes or situations crop up that the law doesn’t address.
One bit of hope is in the language left in the state’s public access law, which includes this preamble:
“Providing persons with the information is an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of public officials and employees, whose duty it is to provide the information. This chapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy and place the burden of proof for the nondisclosure of a public record on the public agency that would deny access to the record and not on the person seeking to inspect and copy the record.”
The key words there: “liberally construed.” We urge the public access counselor and the courts to keep those words in mind as they decide how transparent government should be with the people it serves.
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Anderson Herald Bulletin. March 19, 2024.
Editorial: Get to know governor candidates
Republican candidates vying to become Indiana’s next governor have been campaigning since at least last November when they began airing ads to bolster name recognition.
While that seemed too early in the election cycle for many Hoosiers, those ads have served as reminders to register to vote by the April 8 deadline or plan to participate in early voting which begins the next day.
Both activities can be accomplished locally by heading to the Madison County clerk’s office in the courthouse. Satellite locations for early voting have yet to be named.
Also, Hoosiers can register to vote online until midnight April 8.
We know of at least 180 people who have begun participating in the election process leading to the May 7 primary. Those folks attended the GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner on March 5 at the Millcreek Civic Center in Chesterfield.
Four of the six Republican gubernatorial candidates showed up for the function: former Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers; former Indiana Economic Development Corp. President Eric Doden; former State Attorney General Curtis Hill; and current Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.
Their platforms focus on the economy. Some are starting to distinguish themselves from one another, but it’s still a toss-up of provability versus bluster, experience versus baggage. Similar comparisons, of course, can be applied when all political party candidates are included on the ballot.
Two candidates were not at the Chesterfield dinner: U.S. Sen. Mike Braun and Jamie Reitenour. Braun was at a Foo Fighters concert in Washington to garner support for his bipartisan bill concerning health care price transparency. Reitenour already had plans to lead worship at a Noblesville church.
But don’t fret, all six will be making numerous appearances around the state to espouse conservative values. (Ex-state schools superintendent Jennifer McCormick is the only Democratic candidate.)
Though the primary is less than two months away, it’s too early to determine how the Republican ballot will shake out. The GOP is seemingly strong in Indiana right now; Democrats can’t claim the same prominence.
Voters will, as always, have the last say.
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Terre Haute Tribune-Star. March 19, 2024.
Editorial: Candidates, issues take center stage
The spring primary election season is churning into a higher gear this week with the launch of this year’s series of local candidate forums.
For those who place a high value on civic education and participation — we count ourselves in that segment of the community — it’s a time of year to be approached with eager anticipation. We see it as an opportunity to spark interest in the voting process, the most democratic of exercises in our form of self-governance.
The League of Women Voters of Vigo County leads the charge in organizing local candidate forums, as they also have done with annual legislative crackerbarrels during each session of the Indiana General Assembly, which recently concluded. The League has long been the principal proponent of civic forums with support from co-sponsors such as the Greater Terre Haute NACCP and the Tribune-Star.
Such events serve a great purpose, not only to provide voters the chance to hear directly from candidates in contested local races, but also to give candidates a way to share and explain their views on issues of concern.
The League, its partners and local candidates will open the season of forums tonight at 6 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library in downtown Terre Haute. First up for voters is a panel of candidates in contested primary races for county commissioner in District 2. The Republican candidates in that race are incumbent Chris Switzer and challenger Anthony Rubinacci. The Democratic candidates are Dillon Moss and Courtney Weger.
The primary races for commissioner in District 3 are uncontested, so the candidates won’t be part of the forum discussion. However, the candidates have been invited to participate in a meet-and-greet with voters after the forum is completed.
The candidate forum series will continue next week on March 27, same time and place, with candidates in contested races for Vigo County Council, and conclude on April 2 with candidates in contested primary races for Indiana House of Representatives.
An important deadline will occur on April 8 when voter registration ends for the primary, which takes place on May 7. Early voting begins on April 9.
We commend the League of Women Voters for its ongoing efforts to engage voters and candidates in the discussion of local issues. It is an organization that continues to serve this county well.
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