Big boost for open-records initiative

HARRISBURG - The state Senate's majority leader threw his support yesterday behind a proposal to drastically change Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law by presuming all government records are open beyond a list of exceptions.

The "flip of presumption" has long been sought by open-records advocates who say the current law - which defines just two categories of records as necessarily open - allows government to bar access to information the public should know.

State Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) announced his position after a hearing on a Right-to-Know Law bill he is sponsoring that does not call for the flip of presumption. Two other bills would establish the wider definition of a public record, and Gov. Rendell supports the approach.

Pileggi said he plans to amend his bill in the State Government Committee as soon as possible.

"Reversing the presumption is a major change, and we need to carefully balance the right of citizens to review records with the need for appropriate exceptions to protect legitimate interests," he said in a statement. "Developing the list of exceptions should involve input from a wide spectrum of interested parties."

Pileggi's willingness to amend his bill eliminates a potential roadblock for those who favor the flip of presumption - and his stature as majority leader in the Senate provides momentum to the records-law reform efforts.

Exceptions could still prevent access to a range of government-held information, from police investigative materials and personal medical records to Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. Developing such a list will undoubtedly draw intense interest from lobbying groups, state and local governments, public-access advocates and the news media.

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association welcomed Pileggi's announcement.

"We are optimistic that we can work together to achieve the necessary reforms to give Pennsylvanians greater access to their government," association lawyer Teri Henning said.

Pileggi's bill, introduced in March, would make numerous changes to the Right-to-Know Law. Those include expanding the law to cover the financial records of the legislative and judicial branches, as well as the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, community colleges and the four state-related universities: Penn State, Temple, Pitt and Lincoln.