Don't dilute GRAMA

Time and space do not permit the countless examples of how the state Governmental Records Access and Management Act has given journalists and common citizens access to important public documents. The access it provides helps hold accountable the individuals, governmental bodies and agencies charged to do the public's business.

In recent months, public records gleaned from a GRAMA request launched the reporting of the so-called "guzzle gate" scandal in Salt Lake County that resulted in resignations and the criminal prosecution of Salt Lake County auditor Craig Sorensen.

In the wake of the controversy over filmmaker Michael Moore's $40,000 appearance at Utah Valley State College, Deseret Morning News reporter Laura Warner learned through a GRAMA request that the cost of conservative radio talk-show host Sean Hannity's travel expenses were very similar. This reporting helped to provide context and clarity to a roiling community issue.

Journalists have a vested interest in maintaining, if not improving upon the state records management act. As such, we view any move to further restrict the release of information under GRAMA as highly troublesome. We refer to a proposal by several cities, the Utah League of Cities and Towns and Salt Lake City officials that would clamp down on access to government documents under GRAMA.

Some government officials want changes in the law that protect cities from "burdensome" records requests they deem to be "fishing expeditions." For instance, the town of Alta has been inundated with GRAMA requests from an Albion Basin developer who reportedly wants 32 years' worth of records, according to town administrator John Guldner.

Admittedly, such requests could be more readily handled in a large city than a small burg such as Alta. Still, one of the functions of government is to provide access to public documents at a reasonable price. Throw in the cost of labor (which presumably has been paid with taxpayer dollars already) and many average citizens would be overburdened trying to access public information.

Besides, requests can be denied under certain circumstances. However, the denials can be appealed to government department heads, the State Records Committee and the district court.

The League of Cities and Towns wants another municipal representative to sit on the State Records Committee, giving cities more representation during GRAMA appeals. Most of the representatives on the records committee, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, are government officials. Considering that there is but one seat each reserved for a member of the public, a representative of the news media and an elected official representing political subdivisions, there is already an over-representation of government officials on the records committee.

The Legislature needs to take notice of the careful compromise struck between the interests of government and those of the public and the news media as GRAMA was drafted. As Salt Lake media attorney Jeff Hunt, one of the architects of GRAMA, explains: "GRAMA is really the citizen's window into the workings of government and we ought not to be closing that window. We should be opening that window more. What we should be talking about is more effective sanctions to get government to comply with GRAMA."

We couldn't agree more.