We need more transparency in government, not less
On Monday, January 11, the West University Place City Council will consider a resolution in opposition to overturning the Texas Open Meetings Act. Four Texas cities, Pflugerville, Alpine, Rockport and Big Lake, along with 15 elected officials, filed a lawsuit on December 14 to overturn the Texas Open Meetings Act, claiming it is a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech. I couldn’t disagree more; we need more transparency in government, not less. Accordingly, I am asking the West University Place City Council to adopt a resolution reflecting the City of West University Place’s support for the Texas Open Meeting Act including the continuation of the possibility of criminal penalties for its most egregious violators.
Here is the proposed language:
“The City of West University Place hereby makes and enters of record this resolution in support of the Texas Open Meetings Act (“TOMA”). Specifically, West University Place is resolved to support the retention of the possibility of criminal penalties for the Act’s most egregious violations. We stand foursquare behind the proposition that public officials should not participate in closed meetings not permitted by TOMA. West University Place further states, by this resolution, that we do not believe that TOMA violates the First Amendment rights of any public official, each of whom is free to take any position on any issue and fully speak his or her mind. Rather, we believe TOMA is necessary for the citizens of Texas to exercise their First Amendment right to effectively observe and participate in their government.”
