December 10, 2011

LePage wants to shield 'working papers' from public

AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is seeking to shield all of his "working papers" from scrutiny under the state's Freedom of Access Act.

Members of the state's right-to-know advisory committee recommended that that Legislature's Judiciary Committee approve the governor's exemption next session. The proposal would need both the support of the committee and the full Legislature to go into effect.

The Bangor Daily News quotes Michael Cianchette, LePage's deputy counsel, as saying the shield would only give the governor and his inner circle the same privilege that lawmakers already enjoy.

But Judy Meyer, Sun Journal managing editor and co-chair of the panel, said the proposal runs counter to what the governor has said about transparency. She described it as "hypocritical."

 

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