Way back in 1977 the Delaware General Assembly passed our FOIA law. It said, among other things, that:
It is vital in a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner so that our citizens shall have the opportunity to observe the performance of public officials and to monitor the decisions that are made by such officials in formulating and executing public policy;
. . . It also defined public bodies as follows:
“Public body” means . . . any regulatory, administrative, advisory, executive, appointive or legislative body of the State, or of any political subdivision of the State . . . PUBLIC BODY SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE, nor any caucus thereof, or committee, subcommittee, ad hoc committee, special committee or temporary committee. [emphasis added]
Let’s see, they are elected by the public. They are paid by the public. They spend the public’s money on their legislation. But they are not a public body? WTF?
If you want to join the public to let these people know what we think of this, come to Dover on opening day of the General Assembly for a demonstration in support of Senate Bill 4 which would make the legislature a public body.
WHEN: January 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM
WHERE: The Senate Wing, first floor hallway, of Legislative Hall, Dover, DE. We’ve got tee-shirts, buttons, and signs. We need the public! Lot’s of the public.
HERE IS THE KICKER: I’ll be shirtless on the steps of leg hall and will have a short petition written on my torso that says: Make the General Assembly a “public body.” which you will be able to sign with a sharpie. So come down and sign my “public body” to help make the General Assembly a “public body.”
OPEN OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY! OOGA!