Stormy weather

Today's forecast is cloudy.

And we're not talking about the weather.

Georgians' rights to public records are always tenuous; access to your rightful information requires constant vigilance because of officials and bureaucrats who think the information is theirs - or simply don't know it's yours.

But, sad to say, your rights are unusually at risk this legislative session.

And we're nonplussed at the new Republican majority for making it so.

H.B. 218 would provide increased secrecy for governmental units in Georgia during economic development talks. It provides that the public won't know anything until after a development is a done deal. What's the point of that - other than ambushing the public?

There is no evidence suggesting Georgia has been harmed by operating in the sunshine. Don't send in the clouds.

In addition, H.B. 684 would allow government agencies to require that open records requests be in writing.

You know what this is about? Making it more inconvenient for you to get public records, so you won't do it so much. Apparently, public employees feel put-upon by occasional public-record junkies who haunt courthouses and city halls; so they'd rather put all of you out instead.

Again, those are your records. It's as if the Department of Transportation were considering putting in barriers preventing you from getting home.

Don't let your legislators keep the public's information - your information - from you.

Things grow better - and you can see everything more clearly - in the sunshine.