Eight Editorial Boards Call on Governor Cuomo to Sign Bills Strengthening Freedom of Information

Propelled by the conviction of former Assembly Speaker Silver and the ongoing trial of former Senate Leader Skelos, editorial boards are again calling on Governor Cuomo to sign two bills, A114 and A1438B, that would strengthen New York’s Freedom of Information Laws. Cuomo has until midnight on December 11th to sign or veto the bills, which are also strongly supported by Reinvent Albany and leading civic and transparency groups.

Eight Recent Editorials

The Citizen, Auburn: “Establishing two positive enhancements of the people’s right to know would show that Cuomo is serious about transparency and accountability.”

Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester: “By signing these bills, Cuomo would send a strong message to state agencies to take open records laws seriously.”

The Journal News, Lower Hudson: “There is no good reason for Cuomo to veto bills that would help citizens, advocacy groups, journalists and others access public records and hold government accountable.”

Post Star, Glens Falls: “The free exchange of information from the people’s government to the people is the foundation of our system. These bills will facilitate that exchange, and we urge the governor to sign them.”

Poughkeepsie Journal, Poughkeepsie: “On behalf of a better, more accountable government, the governor should not only join in this effort, he should lead with his signature.”

Syracuse.com, Syracuse: “As the clock runs out on 2015, we urge Cuomo to sign these two bills into law.”

Times Union, Albany: “That hardly seems fair, does it — for a government to force citizens to go to the hassle and expense of a lawsuit to get public records?”

Watertown Daily News, Watertown: “These are common-sense bills to revise the FOIL for the better. We urge the governor to sign them into law immediately.”