By ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press
This story has been updated:
Group can begin gathering signatures to get public records measure on Arkansas ballot
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday approved the wording of a proposal that would create a constitutional right to access public records and meetings, clearing the way for supporters to begin gathering signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
Griffin approved the language for the proposed constitutional amendment a day after supporters sued his office for rejecting earlier versions of the measure. Griffin’s approval was needed before the group could begin gathering the 90,704 valid signatures from registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot.
The proposed amendment, if approved by voters, would make government transparency a right protected by the state’s constitution and would make it harder for the Legislature to change the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
Arkansas Citizens for Transparency said it would begin gathering signatures for the measure. But David Couch, the group’s vice chairman, said the group would also keep moving forward with its lawsuit because it preferred an earlier version of the measure.
“If we are successful in our attempts to get the other one approved, we will reevaluate it at the time to see if we have enough time” to gather signatures for it, Couch said.
The group faces a July 5 deadline to turn in signatures to get their proposed amendment on the November ballot. In addition to the statewide requirement, the group must submit a minimum number of signatures from 50 of Arkansas’ 75 counties.
The proposed amendment, if approved by voters, would make government transparency a right protected by the state’s constitution and would make it harder for the Legislature to change the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
The ballot initiative effort began after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law restricting the release of records about her travel and security. Sanders had initially proposed broader exemptions limiting the public’s access to records about her administration, but that proposal faced a backlash that included media groups and some conservatives.
EARLIER:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas group trying to make access to public documents and meetings a constitutionally protected right sued the state’s attorney attorney general on Tuesday for rejecting the language of their proposed ballot measure.
Arkansas Citizens for Transparency asked the state Supreme Court in a 14-page filing to order Attorney General Tim Griffin to either approve the language of their proposal or substitute it with more suitable language.
Griffin’s approval is needed before the group can begin gathering the 90,704 signatures from registered voters required to qualify. The group faces a July 5 deadline to turn in signatures to get their proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
The group argued that Griffin overstepped his authority in rejecting the measure, saying under law he either must approve the measure’s language or substitute language.
“The attorney general’s rejection of the ballot title and popular name demonstrates that he has either a complete lack of understanding of his role in the initiative process or he is intentionally thwarting the effort of the petitioner to get this amendment approved for the ballot so that the voters of the state can decide its merits,” the group said in its filing.
Griffin in December rejected the wording of the proposed ballot measure, citing a “lack of clarity” on key terms in the measure. Griffin in January rejected four revised versions of the measure the group had submitted, saying they failed to resolve the problems he cited earlier.
“I am confident in our review and analysis of ballot submissions and look forward to the Arkansas Supreme Court’s review in this case,” the Republican attorney general said in a statement released by his office.
The ballot measure campaign was formed after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law restricting the release of records about her travel and security. Sanders had initially proposed broader exemptions limiting the public’s access to records about her administration, but that proposal faced a backlash that included media groups and some conservatives.
Associated Press
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