HB 218 continues to stir debate.
Dick Pettys of the Associated Press reports that "[o]ne of the most controversial bills of this year's legislative session continue[s] to stir strong feelings."
Backed by Gov. Sonny Perdue's administration, the bill passed the House this year but stalled in the Senate under intense opposition from the state's press.
The governor's team contends that Georgia's Open Records law are hindering the corporate recruitment effort because businesses don't want their negotiations open to public inspection.
"I still don't believe we have an issue. I don't believe open records are hampering our ability," said Mike King, an editorial board member of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The measure would allows economic development authorities to bar public access to the offers they make to companies to lure them to Georgia. The deals would be subject to open records laws only after a deal was completed.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Ron Stephens of Garden City, argued that neighboring states can use open records to find out what Georgia is offering and steal away those businesses by offering slightly better deals.
King said he might support changes to the law if there was solid evidence the state was being hampered in its industry recruitment efforts and if the change ensured the public's right to know at critical stages.
"I'm not convinced we're there yet," he said.
Backed by Gov. Sonny Perdue's administration, the bill passed the House this year but stalled in the Senate under intense opposition from the state's press.
The governor's team contends that Georgia's Open Records law are hindering the corporate recruitment effort because businesses don't want their negotiations open to public inspection.
"I still don't believe we have an issue. I don't believe open records are hampering our ability," said Mike King, an editorial board member of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The measure would allows economic development authorities to bar public access to the offers they make to companies to lure them to Georgia. The deals would be subject to open records laws only after a deal was completed.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Ron Stephens of Garden City, argued that neighboring states can use open records to find out what Georgia is offering and steal away those businesses by offering slightly better deals.
King said he might support changes to the law if there was solid evidence the state was being hampered in its industry recruitment efforts and if the change ensured the public's right to know at critical stages.
"I'm not convinced we're there yet," he said.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 12:02 PM
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