{"id":6780,"date":"2015-10-02T14:15:03","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T21:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/?p=6780"},"modified":"2020-06-02T10:05:23","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T17:05:23","slug":"the-line-transparency-in-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/the-line-transparency-in-government\/","title":{"rendered":"The Line: Transparency In Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 2, 2015<\/em> – Albuquerque television state KRQE settled a lawsuit<\/a> this week against the city of Albuquerque. The city admitted in the settlement that officials did not follow requirements for releasing documents under the state Inspection of Public Records Act<\/a> (IPRA).<\/p>\n

Journalists across the state are drawing attention to other violations of IPRA.\u00a0\u00a0Laura Paskus<\/a>\u00a0writes in\u00a0\u00a0the Santa Fe Reporter<\/a>\u00a0this week about another lawsuit and the challenges of enforcing IPRA:<\/p>\n

“The law guarantees the public the right to see documents related to everything from health statistics and environmental studies to budgets, contracts and salaries. But in New Mexico, public agencies don\u2019t always follow the rules.<\/em><\/p>\n

One way agencies skirt compliance, for instance, is by stalling the release of documents for so long that they are no longer relevant to the requester. Absent some strongly worded letters or the threat of paltry fines\u2014picked up by taxpayers, no less\u2014there are no real consequences when an agency or official violates the laws.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Full Story<\/em>:\u00a0Faux Transparency –\u00a0Citizens are on their own when trying to pull back the curtain on the government\u2019s public record<\/a><\/p>\n

Host Gene Grant and this week’s Line opinion panelists\u00a0share their thoughts on the importance of\u00a0transparency in state and local government.<\/p>\n