Squeezing the Information Flow

Gov. Pete Wilson erred last week when he vetoed two bills that had everything to do with the public’s legitimate interest in how its government works and little to do with the “special interests” that he argued would be the only beneficiaries of the bills.

The first, sponsored by Sen. Quentin Kopp (I-San Francisco), would have overturned Wilson administration regulations that effectively block news reporters from arranging one-on-one interviews with inmates in state prisons. The governor says that “interviews with prisoners about their crimes tend to glamorize criminal activity.” But by that logic, the governor might also contemplate limits on the reporting of testimony in criminal cases.

Wilson also insisted that Kopp’s bill gave the press “special access” to information not available to the general public. Is he suggesting that the press’ obligation to report openly and fully on the $3.7-billion, tax-funded prison system is just another self-serving special interest?

The regulations imposed last year will now remain in effect. Reporters can question inmates they encounter at random during prison tours, ask prisoners to call them collect or try to visit during regular visiting hours. But forget about taking in pens, notebooks, cameras or tape recorders. These unwarranted limits should give every prudent taxpayer pause.

Wilson’s veto of AB 179, by Assembly member Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), is similarly misguided. This bill would have required agencies to give Californians electronic copies of public records for the cost of providing those records. The bill applies to public documents generated by cities, counties and the state, including agency budgets, complaints before watchdog agencies against doctors or auto makers, environmental impact statements and industrial accident reports.

State law already guarantees the public access to paper copies of state and local records, charging just for the cost of duplication. And under a bill Wilson wisely did sign this month, beginning next year candidates must file their campaign finance statements electronically as well as in paper form. Those statements will be available on the Internet without charge.

Yet Wilson saw Bowen’s bill as creating an “inflexible mandate” on behalf of political candidates or special interest groups. Huh? We urge Kopp and Bowen to try again next year. Perhaps the governor will come around.