May 23, 2007

90 Seconds

The office of state Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, the House Finance committee chairman, continues to refuse to fully release all documents related to the controversial "community enhancement grants" aspect of the House Democrats' budget plans. Since last week I have been asking for copies of the original community grants request documents as turned in to Fitzhugh's office by legislators wanting to designate how their $100,000 in pork was to be allocated.

According to a memo sent to legislators regarding the community enhancement grants:

Each member must file with the House Finance Office (LP 33) a written request for inclusion in the community enhancement grant program.

Initially, during a phone call with me, Fitzhugh agreed and his assistant, Eunice Golden, would provide me copies of those documents, but apparently Fitzhugh later decided against it as Golden advised me they would not be making copies or faxing copies of those original documents.

Fitzhugh's office also stonewalled A.C. Kleinheider at VolunteerVoters.com.

It would take no more than 90 seconds for Golden to stack the written requests into the fax machine, enter my and Kleinheider's fax numbers, and hit the "send" button. She refuses to do so, most certainly at the orders of Rep. Fitzhugh.

The open records law was not intended to make public records available only to members of the public who live within driving distance of Legislative Plaza.

Meanwhile, I have also asked Fitzhugh and Golden for copies of all emails between Fitzhugh and other legislators regarding the community enhancement grants. Legislators' emails are public records. They have not even acknowledged the request.