CA Capitol continues to accept a secret for transparency

California was once a national leader in the requirement of civil servants to do their business – really our business – publicly.

By starting with Act of Ralph M. Brown from 1953Who imposed strict restrictions on the secret meetings of local authorities, the legislation of California has adopted several “sun bills” as they were called. Thehe Bagley-KEENE ACT extend the requirements for open -acted brown Act meetings while Public Records Act Guaranteed access to all, except for several documents held and local agencies maintained.

However, while the legislature was ready to make the sun shine on others, it was largely free. In this way, the “rubbers” can be found behind closed doors to decide the fate of the legislation, essentially scripting what will be said in open sessions before voting. Committees for legislative budget loans can – and did it – secretly decide which accounts will reach the floors Both houses and just announce the winners and the loser without explanation.

At one time, legislative secrecy was under control, more or less, with two political parties and a significant corps of reporters. Party leaders can reveal what their rivals are preparing and reporters can penetrate into an illegal transaction through sources.

However, as California became dominated by a party and the Capitol Corps shrinks due to cataclysms in the media industry, the secret is strengthened.

An example is the current efforts of governor Gavin Newo and democratic legislators yes Draw new cards for the 53 Congress of the State In order to capture enough new places to compensate for the Republican Gerimander in the congress regions of Texas. The new cards in California have been secretly drawn up, a sharp contrast to the monthly public discussions four years ago by the State Redistribution Commission, which leads to current maps.

Obviously the new cards will be briefly revealed before the law voted Put them on a vote for special elections in NovemberS There are no plans to allow them to be modified before adoption.

What happens to the redistribution is exactly in accordance with Capitol’s Stool to do the public business aloneS

Another example, As CalMatters revealed Last year, an unwritten rule was forbiddening the legislators from actually discussing the changes to their bills during committee meetings, essentially conducting similar hearing on meaningless sharades.

Another is the massive project for the construction of a new application to the Capitol itself. The legislature released the project from the California Law on the Quality of Environment and refuses to release details of what is being built or costswhich look massive despite the chronic, multi -million -dollar budget deficit of the state. It also requires persons involved in the project to sign promises of non -disclosure to keep details in a secretS

Hanging measure, Assembly Bill 1392will release the home addresses of civil servants and political candidates to be disclosed. Although advertised as a safety measure would make it impossible for journalists to determine whether employees actually live in areas they represent – something that has pops up many timesS

Legislators also want to make the activities of local self -government less transparent.

A measure now hanging in Capitol, Assembly A assembly 699is the last of a few efforts to resolve the local bond measures to miss the tax consequences of voting summary, and rather put them in pamphlets of voters, making them less known.

Closing the circle that began with the passage of brown law in 1953, Senate Bill 707 would facilitate some local agencies to hold their meetings via the Internet rather than personally, thus Facilitating criticism silence from the public.

While the dominant Democrats in California often accuse President Donald Trump of undermining democracy, their growing desire for a secret is equally disgusting.