Rep. Garrison introduces public records legislation

For immediate release: Thursday, September 29, 2005 Contact: Danielle Nelson (614) 644-8728 Rep. Garrison introduces public records legislation COLUMBUS - State Representative Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) introduced legislation that would amend the open records law. The legislation would require all statewide office holders’ business appointment calendars and their personal appointment calendar entries with registered lobbyists or campaign donors are public records. Statewide office holders includes: the Governor; Secretary of State, Auditor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Lieutenant Governor, cabinet members, and Supreme Court Justices. “In the name of open and honest government, I believe that the current public records law needs to be cleaned up,” said Rep. Garrison. “This may have helped Governor Taft be more accurate in his ethics disclosures if he had known everyone could view his calendar.” Garrison said the legislation would require state office holders to be held accountable for ethics disclosures, especially in light of public scrutiny. “We need to ensure the citizens of Ohio that our elected officials can demonstrate to the public that government can be open,” said Garrison. - 30 -