Atlanta Forward / Another View: Penalties would be enforced
Government should be open and transparent to the people of Georgia for one simple reason: When those in power ignore the law and they hide it from us, it’s a crime, and all of us are the victims.
Public officials make better decisions when they know our sunshine laws are enforced, and when they know they’ll have to answer, just as anybody else would, when they break them.
That’s why, as attorney general, I’ll ask for a tiered penalty system for violations, with stepped-up penalties for repeat offenders, and I’ll enforce it.
I’ll also boost educational outreach to all government offices on current sunshine laws. If they break them after that, there’s no excuse.
As district attorney for Dougherty County, I lived day in and day out in the courtroom, prosecuting hundreds of cases.
If it takes a trip to court to bring violators in line, I’ll be there.
