In an age of hacks, PA Senate addresses data breach security

By   /  May 1, 2013  /  Featured, News, Pennsylvania, Public records, State Government  /  No Comments

DATA HACKS: Data breaches in government agencies are becoming more common and exposing more records, according to a report from Rapid7, an IT security firm.

Digitized government data is no stranger to security breaches, but residents may at least be able to count on swift notification when their information is at risk.

Read More →

Iowa officials stall release of welfare transactions

By   /  April 3, 2013  /  Accountability, Featured, Iowa, Issues, News, Open Records, Public records, State Government  /  No Comments

Iowa continues to block the release of EBT transactions.

Iowa officials continue to stall in handing over detailed reports of where public welfare money is being spent months after being asked to disclose the information.

Read More →

‘Are we subsidizing too much?’: Government worker on access to public records in Kansas

By   /  March 13, 2013  /  Featured, Kansas, News, Open Records, Public records, State Government, Transparency  /  2 Comments

Sen. Jake Laturner, R-Pittsburg, argues in favor of SB 10, which would increase access to public documents by capping fees.

By Travis Perry │ Kansas Watchdog
TOPEKA — City of Wichita lobbyist Dale Goter says everyone has a right to access public records in Kansas.
He just doesn’t think everyone should.
Goter was just one of 15 school, state and local government officials who testified Wednesday against SB 10, authored by Pittsburg Republican Sen. Jake LaTurner. The legislation would increase [...]

Read More →

Internet creates opportunities, hurdles to transparent government

By   /  March 8, 2013  /  Accountability, Censorship, Featured, Free Speech, News, Open Records, Public records, public sector, State Government, Transparency, Wisconsin  /  1 Comment

Watchdog.org celebrates Sunshine Week with a series detailing how our reporters obtained government information.

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON – Despite the dark and sinister corners where thieves and sex offenders lurk, the Internet has brought the light of the Information Age to the far corners of the world.
In so doing, the online experience has opened the door to greater transparency in many governments. So, U.S. citizens can [...]

Read More →

How much did John Doe probe cost? D.A. doesn’t keep track

By   /  March 5, 2013  /  Accountability, Ethics, Featured, Judiciary, News, Open Records, Power Abuse, Public records, State Politics, Taxes, Transparency, Wisconsin  /  2 Comments

Doe Dough? Milwaukee County District Attorney's office says they do not - and do not have to - keep track of the cost of John Doe investigations.

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON – Nearly three years in the making, the Milwaukee County District Attorney office’s John Doe investigation into former aides and associates of Gov. Scott Walker racked up a lot of man hours and, presumably, a lot of tax dollars.
Just how much? Taxpayers apparently will never know.
In response to Wisconsin [...]

Read More →