Opinion: Maine should adopt FOI ombudsman

You have a right to know what your government's up to, what it knows, when it knows it. Think of it like a poker game where the government has to play with all of its cards showing.

To make sure you know what it knows, Maine has a Freedom of Access Law, guaranteeing access to the "public records" and "public proceedings" of state and local government bodies and agencies.
This law is commonly violated. Most citizens do not know their rights, and many government employees and elected officials are not up to speed about the law's requirements. I prefer to think they're ignorant, rather than deliberately withholding information.
We all need to be educated and the law needs to be strengthened. Legislation sponsored by Rep. Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn, is now in play to do this. One important provision would establish an ombudsman in the Attorney General's office to help citizens access public records. This was a recommendation of the state's Right to Know Advisory Committee. Simpson's bill requires the ombudsman "to provide information and educational materials and programs to the public, as well as to public agencies and officials."</P>
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