Mississippi Press: Disappointed but not surprised

E-mail request exposes problem. However, the Mississippi Press says the result of the Clarion-Ledger’s request for 4 days of Gov. Barbour’s e-mail “yielded a not-so-surprising result.”

E-mail records from governors has the overall tally so far.

Not living in Mississippi, I don’t know why the newspaper isn’t surprised that Haley Barbour’s office didn’t behave in a more reasonable manner in response to this request. Things must be tough as far as government sunshine in the state goes if a newspaper isn’t surprised at the truly outre nature of the response the Clarion-Ledger got from Barbour.

Barbour “has no intention” of ensuring accountable government

Barbour’s idea of open government too costly, according to Dewey E. McKee in a letter-to-the-editor published in the Mississippi Leader Call.

“Proof of the governor’s refusal to assist in strengthening the laws to convince the people that public records are offered freely and heartily is the ‘staggering bill’ of $14,170.48 that his office recently presented to The Clarion-Ledger for making available a few copies of e-mails.”

McKee goes on, “Not one penny should be paid for access to these records and the stubbornness and arrogance displayed by members of the governor’s staff turns the clock back in time to the days when the people, for fear of reprisal action, did not dare question public officials on their wrongful decisions.”

The only thing that remains is for Mr. McKee to start blogging.

Gov. Haley Barbour record retention policies deemed “prehistoric”

Admittedly, by lowly me. But it got quoted in a real newspaper.

According to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, Barbour e-mails come at high cost. Haley Barbour is the Republican governor of Mississippi.

When reporter Chris Joyner asked for 4 days of e-mail from the governor’s office, he was told it would cost $14,170.48.

See how this compares to other governors.

The $14,170.48 for four days of e-mail includes an out-of-town computer consultant at $5,400 and outside legal counsel review, $7,500. It’s that computer consultant that led me to describe the policy as “prehistoric”. Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon for government agencies to ask for money to hire a computer consultant to re-program their archives for records response when FOIA requestors asked for electronic documents.

$14,000 might (or might not) be an accurate reflection of how much it would cost Barbour’s office to deliver the e-mails. But, if so, that’s a huge problem, because it certainly puts the cost of obtaining these important historical records out of the reach of practically anyone. Or, as Ronnie Agnew, executive editor of the Clarion-Ledger says,

“It’s an insult to us and to taxpayers to suggest that such a basic use of technology is worth the cost of a good, mid-priced car.”

In other governors-acting-badly news, several media organizations in North Carolina today launched a lawsuit against Gov. Mike Easley over the deletion of official e-mails.

Governors! Straighten up and fly right!

Blagojevich office refuses to provide e-mail records

The office of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich refused an open records request from Illinois blogger Mike Van Winkle. See the updated list of results with responses from other governors.

Update on Sunshine Blogger Project

Mike Van Winkle at A Chicago Blog is trying to file a FOIA with the Office of the Governor of Illinois. It’s not easy, because on the question of where and to whom to send one’s request, the official government website is resolutely silent.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist able to provide 4 days of e-mail

Liberty Is For Me, the Florida blogger participating in the Sunshine Blogger Project reports that her governor, Republican Charlie Crist, has responded to her request in the same satisfying, apparently full way that Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee) responded to a request from Taxing Tennessee.

Today’s Status of Sunshine Blogger Project.

Deciphering Hawaiian governor’s email

Ian Lind has figured out how to decipher e-mails sent to him from Gov. Linda Lingle’s office.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Sunshine Blogger Project

Blogger Liberty Is For Me reports that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s office intends to provide her with copies of 4 days of e-mail, probably at no cost.  If so, Republican Gov. Crist and Democratic Gov Phil Bredesen of Tennessee will tie for the gold-star  award.

E-mail records from governors.

Sunshine Blogger Wisconsin: “Gov. Doyle not enamored”

Jo Egelhoff of Fox Politics is the participating Sunshine Blogger in Wisconsin. This morning, she reports on her back-and-forths with the Gov. Jim Doyle’s office. Things aren’t going too well:

Gov. Doyle’s office not enamored with Freedom of Information.

Gov. Mike Easley’s open records behavior considered “baffling”

The editorial board of North Carolina’s Charlotte Observer is just one group strongly criticizing North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley. They refer to his “baffling misperception of the state public records law” as “one more bizarre moment in this troubling episode.”

See Sunshine Blogger Project status update for information on other governors and what they do with email.