Information about Taxes, Government Spending and the Economy 

Legislative Alert - HB218 - secret meetings bill

HB218 has been filed and has actually passed out of committee with a positive recommendation:

This bill has the effect of nullifying the concept of open government. Your government can decide to place a facility in your back yard and you get to find out after the fact. Between this and SB 5 (giving developers the ability to request that your property be condemned) we see a not so subtle shift of power to developers, eliminating the rights of the citizens who pay the bill for our state government.

Of yes, some will scream that this bill is innocent. Well read the following provision:

C) Records not subject to disclosure pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall become subject to public disclosure once the agency, person, business, or entity publicly announces that the entity or business that is the subject of negotiations will be retained, expanded, or located in the jurisdiction or that negotiations to do so have been terminated or abandoned.∀

The sponsors are listed above and the members of the committee that reported this bill with a recommendation to pass follow:

Legislation Assigned	Room 228, State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404.656.656.5122 Staff: Eva Farrill
Roberta Abdul-Salaam Allen Freeman Jay Neal Tom Bordeaux Michele Henson Nan Grogan Orrock Tyrone Brooks Cecily Hill Butch Parrish Bob Bryant Billy Horne Stacey Reece Gail Buckner Henry Howard Jay Roberts Mark Butler Sistie Hudson Freddie Powell Sims Buddy Carter Charles Jenkins Vance Smith Tom Dickson Paul Jennings LaNett Stanley-Turner Matt Dollar Gene Maddox Joe Wilkinson Winfred Dukes Randal Mangham Al Williams Terry England Fran Millar

Now would be a good time to contact your State Representative and tell them to vote against this bill. Do they represent you or developers? When this bill comes up for a vote in the full House you will find out.

Note: If box below is blank the State web site is down