Copyright 2005, The Press-Enterprise

How refreshing. Schwarzenegger has seized a leading role in defending access.

(The Press-Enterprise, May 5) -- Gov. Schwarzenegger this week muscled open the curtains of secrecy a bit farther, as he ordered California agencies to steadfastly abide by Prop. 59, a constitutional amendment that passed in November with 83 percent of the vote.

Too often, government keeps taxpayers in the dark by concealing records of its activities. This makes effective oversight cumbersome, and allows official mischief to go unreported.

So Schwarzenegger has stated that any request by state agencies to keep records from the media or the public will need his approval. He urged local governments to respect Prop. 59 as well.

How refreshing. Schwarzenegger has seized a leading role in defending this constitutional right, expecting agencies to deal directly with him if they hope to shield information from the public. Bureaucrats can no longer routinely hide behind Section 6255 of the state legal code, which lets agencies conceal or withhold documents if they believe secrecy, not disclosure, would "better serve" the public interest.

Nope. They have to get Schwarzenegger's OK first. Good luck with that.

The California Newspaper Publishers Association and the California First Amendment Coalition in December asked the governor for tangible help in upholding the principles of openness and access endorsed in Prop. 59.

Though the governor did not issue an executive order instructing state agencies to "broadly construe" openness laws, as the groups had requested, state Legal Affairs Secretary Peter Siggins left little doubt that Schwarzenegger expects transparency from government officials, in the Capitol and throughout the state.

That approach is heartening. Citizens are entitled to know what government does in the public's name and with the public's money.

By making the quest for openness a personal cause, the governor puts brawn behind Prop. 59, and helps wrestle down those government officials who shun public oversight.