Saturday, August 06, 2011

Private Investigator News: Government's hefty charges block access to public records

"Bureaucrats and politicians are increasingly using excessive fees to block public access to records, as state agencies in Delaware and nationwide embrace policies allowing hefty fees for answering Freedom of Information Act queries.

Government is using the charges, critics say, to underwrite its failure or refusal to manage records in ways that assure easy taxpayer access to details of the public's business.

Gov. Jack Markell's administration is developing a policy that would standardize charges state agencies can levy for access to public records. Some legislators say the law may need to be changed to better define 'reasonable' fees for public records."

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Location Oakland, Ca | San Francisco, Ca | California - Private Investigator