Best of the FOIAsphere: Weekly round-up

For our new readers, when I say “weekly”, it means “weekly or less-than-weekly, depending”.

Much has been happening in the world of open records blogging. Here are some of the posts we most enjoyed or learned from.

Connecticut:

Save us from this horrible mandate of disclosure.

Illinois:

Isn’t it good to know there is a watchdog blog for Evanston, Illinois? They know about FOIA, which always stands a watchdogger in good stead.

Iowa:

File an open records request, get fired.

Kansas:

How can you tell if a public utility failed to seek competitive bids on 21 out of 25 contracts of over $50,000? You know, it’s a good thing the economy is roaring and we don’t have to watch every penny.

Louisiana:

Moldy City has thoughts about Mayor Ray Nagin’s administration.

Maryland:

Wouldn’t you like to have a blog called the Pocomoke Tattler? Wouldn’t it be fun to just write all day long about Pocomoke, Maryland?

In this case, the Tattler is keeping a watchful eye on the city manager.

New Hampshire:

Another website to cheer you up.

New Jersey:

What do I know, but I would imagine that New Jersey Senate Republicans are an endangered species. Not so endangered, though, that they can’t put together a feisty blog series called Your Tax Dollars at Work. They’re doing this to spotlight the need for a searchable online database of government spending or, as we like to say, If you can’t defend it, don’t spend it.

Ohio:

The dog ate my homework.

Pennsylvania:

Light comes to Lehigh. (Because a citizen went to meetings, recorded them, and posted them on his website.)

Texas:

Why can’t government make its spending available? Anyone? Anyone?

A great new website: George Scott Reports.

Washington:

Blogs (sort of) disagreeing! The legislature shouldn’t make it harder and the laws can be a burden.

More here and thanks to Maverick for collecting these links even while having other things on her mind.