Rep. Murphy proposes the OK Legislature open up its records & meetings

When Oklahoma drafted its Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, it exempted itself from the laws. The only thing the Legislature has to disclose is what monies are being spent, but any other correspondence in the legislature remains confidential.

“It’s kind of interesting to me that we promulgate rules on every other agency to be open and transparent, except for the House and the Senate,” said Tulsa Democratic Representative Lucky Lamons in an interview with News 9.

Lamons added amendments to several bills in the last session that would have forced the legislature follow the Open Records and Open Meetings Acts, but all of them were killed.

Those in the legislature are defending the exemption, saying they need to protect constituents privacy. But the confidentiality clause isn’t much of a defense, according to Representative Jason Murphey. Murphy will be drafting an Open Records and Meetings Act especially for the legislature next fall.

It’ll be interesting to see which of those who’ve signed pledges supporting open government principles will support the bill.