Senate passes open-records bill that would greatly widen access

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, January, 2008 | by Amy Worden Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau

HARRISBURG - The state Senate yesterday unanimously approved a bill that vastly expands the public's access to government records. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) said that if the legislation becomes law, Pennsylvania would go from having one of the nation's worst open-records laws to, in his view, having one of the best.

"At least we are in the position to make that claim," said Pileggi, the bill's sponsor. "Before, it was inarguably one of the worst in the country." A spokesman for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D., Greene) said the House leadership would review changes made by the Senate before determining whether it would vote on the bill in its current form. The House could vote as early as Monday. If the chamber does not agree with the...