Earlier this afternoon, the House relegated House Bill 87, Sunshine Amendment, to the Rules Committee, where legislation often goes to die quietly. (HT: Josh Ellis.) As David Bass reported earlier this month, had it passed, voters would have had the opportunity to enshrine North Carolina’s open records law in the state constitution. Moreover, any move to modify the open-records law would require a three-fifths vote by both houses of the General Assembly, rather than the simple majority needed now.
Objections to the bill came entirely from Democrats, who appear to be carrying water for local government units that want the opportunity to conduct business out of public view. Dems have insisted that the amendment be watered down to a simple statute, which of course could be altered by any future General Assembly.
Republicans would need both a unified caucus vote and the support of four Democrats to move this to the Senate and then to voters. Can’t we find four Democrats of the 52 in the House who are willing to take a stand for open government?
