Information please

Information.  At what price?  How much should we be "entitled" to?

The "Editor's file" piece in The Standard Times today deals with the concept.  I might tend to agree that the "price" in one of the cases sited is a bit high.  Without more, one can't determine is the price would be excessive under the law.  Still, should there be a charge for public records?

It is always an interesting dilemma.  The public's right to know pitted against the cost of producing and providing records.  The law is pretty clear about the public's right to know.

In most specific cases, the costs are probably minimal.  What does get lost at times is the repetitive requests by multiple parties, or the numerous request on numerous issues.

Not sure where you get to the balance point on this one.  Always free isn't it, and always charging what you might legally be entitled to charge isn't always it either.  Oh well, that's why there is a right to challenge the response from the record keeper.

Speaking of information ....

I ran across these stories on The New York Times & Boston Globe sites.  I found them interesting.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/challenging-warren-brown-to-release-6-years-of-returns/

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/08/07/elizabeth-warren-calls-scott-brown-release-more-tax-returns-than-she-has/YBXaARA2AdnEfFnV2XECmM/story.html

http://articles.boston.com/2012-08-08/news/33074561_1_tax-returns-warren-campaign-elizabeth-warren

The pieces concern the tax return flap that occurred in our Senate race.

Okay, that's it for today.  Enjoy the remainder of the weekend, and be safe.