Hunt also questions the timing and form of the task force. He points out that it took a coalition of lawmakers, citizens and special-interest groups two years to carefully craft GRAMA to strike a balance between protecting privacy and keeping government transparent. The current task force is comprised solely of lawmakers who have met monthly since May.

Aagard and Thomas say the task force's intent is not to close government off to the public but to address technology changes and abuse issues.

"We still do what's in the best interest of the citizens of Utah, and that's what we're trying to do," Thomas said.

Aagard said he wants to prevent people from abusing GRAMA. "People have discovered that they can use government as a hammer and slow it down and make it less efficient. We're trying to make it more efficient," he said.

Hutchings countered that efficiency isn't a hallmark of an open and democratic government, adding, "(government) worked very efficiently in the Soviet Union, and it works very efficiently in China."

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Meeting is Tuesday

• The Government Records Access and Management Task Force will meet Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Room W125 of the House Building.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com