Michael Abate News Today

When a person decides to enter public life, they give up a bit of privacy.

Here’s hoping the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear will reject this attack on a law that has served Kentucky well for 50 years. 

Opponents say public officials “will simply communicate by means other than their work email” and circumvent records requests under bill.

Legislation to amend the Kentucky Open Records Act cleared a Senate committee despite bipartisan criticism that it would undermine government transparency, though a controversial part of the bill was rejected.

HB 509 was passed out of committee on Wednesday after contentious debate.

Kentucky lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would ensure public officials’ personal emails and texts about their official business are off limits under the state’s Open Records Act.

In a rare change of mind, a Senate committee rejected a measure that open government advocates warned would dismantle Kentucky’s open records law. 

Open government advocates have warned the bill will make it easier for officials to hide public business in private text messages and email.

Similar bills have been found to be unconstitutional in at least five other states.

Tuesdays court filing asks Atkins to award WPSD-TV $40,428.45 in attorneys fees and costs against Murray State, as well as $374,850 in statutory penalties.