![](\"http:\/\/www.journalismjobs.com\/images\/fouhy_photo.jpg\")
<\/a>\nBeth Fouhy writes for AP that\n<\/a>\nBeth Fouhy writes for AP that\n\nOpenness in state gov’t? AP survey shows obstacles<\/a>\n\nMore openness in government. Lawmakers across the country, including\nthe Republicans who took control in many states this year, say they\nwant it. But a survey of all 50 states by The Associated Press has found\nthat efforts to boost openness often are being thwarted by old patterns\nof secrecy.\n\nThe survey did find signs of progress in a number of states, especially in\ntechnological efforts to make much more information available online. But\nthere also are restrictions being put in place for recent electronic\ntrends, such as limits on access to officials’ text messages.\n<\/blockquote>\nThe story lists some good progress in some states, including Alabama.\nThen it goes into some backsliding:\n\n\n
\nWhile political watchdogs in Utah have praised some of the state’s\ntransparency efforts, a purely political problem remains: Republicans, who\nhave more than a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate, negotiate\nthe budget in private with almost no input from Democrats. The same\ngoes for meetings between the governor and GOP leaders, which usually\nare unannounced and not open to the public.\n\nIn New York’s state capital, Albany, critics have compared the budget\nprocess to the old Soviet Politburo – but, some suggest, even more\nsecretive and more in the red. Despite a reform bill that passed two\nyears ago, legislative leaders still craft budget bills behind closed\ndoors and send them out for quick votes. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo,\nwho rode to office vowing to reform state government, has focused more\non ethics and lobbying reform than on transparency.\n
\nEven when there seems to be progress in some states, governors and\nlegislators routinely exempt themselves from open records laws or defy\nthem altogether.\n<\/blockquote>\nWe’ll see.\n
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