Open Meetings Law Should Be Upheld

Texas has had an open meetings law on the books for 42 years, and it has worked well. The purpose of the law is to prevent public business from being conducted in secret where the citizens won't know what or how a decision was reached. It comes as no surprise that many city officials don't like the law. It means they can be held responsible for some bad or unpopular decisions they make.

Sadly, our own mayor here in Amarillo, Debra McCartt, has decided to join the foes of open meetings. She tried to hide her opposition behind some pretty words, by saying, "Cities believe in transparency, but there are some major concerns about this law. We've got some good folks who are threatened with jail by innocent remarks or e-mails."

McCartt joins city officials from Alpine, Pflurgerville, Rockport and several other small cities in Texas. They are planning to file a lawsuit claiming that the part of the law providing for a $500 fine and possible six months in jail for a violation is unconstitutional. In other words, they want to pull all the teeth out of the law by removing the penalties for a violation.

Without penalties for violating the law, there is no point in having the law -- in fact, instead of a law it just becomes a suggestion. What will there be to prevent government officials from having secret meetings by phone, text or e-mail? Absolutely nothing!

Any city or local government official that is afraid of the open meetings law should resign his/her position, and let the people elect someone who is not afraid to do business in an open meeting with the community looking on -- just the way the public's business should be conducted.

No one is forcing these officials to run for office, and if they can't take the heat they should get out of the kitchen. I urge the voters of Texas to find out who the government officials are that oppose the Texas Open Meetings Act and its penalties for a violation of it, and then vote them out of office. They don't deserve their position or your support.

As for Debra McCartt (pictured), it's time for her to go. Even a bad mayor would be preferable to one who wants to conduct city business in secret.