What’s the Register To Do?
Nathan Greene
3 Comments
By Emily Geiger
Question: What is a liberal newspaper to do when betrayed by the Democratic cronies they endorse and propagandize for on a regular basis?
Answer: they write a story about it, but they bury so no one will know they are badmouthing the “chosen ones”... yet. At least that’s the impression I get from the fact that the Register’s article on Gov. Buzz Lightyear’s desire to institute enormous fees for state records requests under the Iowa Open Records laws is no where to be found on the main page of their website. This tactic is basically a warning shot; it lets the state know that the paper is watching, and if they do go forward with these new fees, then the paper will go nuclear.
Buzz wants to start charging fees for the time it takes attorneys to review documents requested by people utilizing the Open Records law. Newspapers are one of the biggest proponents of open records laws. These new fees are in addition to the current reasonable fees that are in place for things such as copying expenses.
In March, it seems the Register made two requests for a rather large amount of documents on each occasion. The Register is being charged $3,100 for one of the requests, and the state wants to charge over $20,000 for the other, saying it will take 551 hours to review the documents requested.
While I understand that the state wants people to make reasonable requests, I just don’t like the idea of these excessive fees for records requests. I think this new fee is analogous to a poll tax. The whole idea is to discourage the lowly little people from exercising their rights. What are they trying to hide?
Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time this year that the Statehouse Dems have come down on the side of secrecy. I do find it hysterical that it is a Democrat trampling on the newspaper’s rights… you have to love irony.
Reader Comments (3)
Buzz Lightyear? Naaah. Mr. Incredible, more like.
No... Buzz Lightyear is more approp...a self-absorbed meglomaniac...who thinks that he's smarter than everyone in the room..
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