open government

The Open Kansas initiative is asking state lawmakers to sign a transparency pledge.

Kansas Senators have given initial approval to two measures designed to make state government more transparent, but critics argue the legislation doesn't go far enough and would allow elected leaders to conduct public business using private emails.

Kansas officials can conduct state business using private email accounts and personal cell phones - neither of which is subject to open records laws. Such secrecy isn't good for democracy. As we hear in this commentary, other aspects of state government could benefit from more transparency.