ACTION needed from Tennessee citizens to prevent changes to “Sunshine Law”
If you are concerned about having an open government, then read on. If you don’t care what our elected officials discuss behind closed doors, then you don’t need to read any further.
Sullivan County, TN recent passing of another “Resolution Requesting Amendment to the “Sunshine Law” Regarding Communication Outside Public Meetings” is disturbing because of their past history regarding the “Sunshine Law” or “Open Government”
This resolution will ask state lawmakers to change the legal definition of a “meeting” under Tennessee’s “Sunshine Law” so that two members of a public body could discuss or communicate with each other on any matter — in private — as long as those two members do not constitute a voting quorum.
I am sure that there are some honest elected officials, but changing the “Sunshine Law” will only weaken what we already have. It opens up the opportunity for “back-room deals”, “wheeling and dealing”, “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”, etc.
A problem with the Sullivan County, TN resolution is that the public would not know what transpired in private meeting between two officials. These two officials could go and speak individually with other elected officials and before you know it all of the elected officials for a county or city have had private discussions.
The elected officials need to understand that they are conducting the publics’ business. If they have something to say, then do so in public.
All citizens of Tennessee should be concerned with this resolution and it’s impact on open government. I would also think that the media would have a problem with this resolution also.
ACTION NEEDED: If you have a problem with the Sullivan County resolution asking state lawmakers to change the Sunshine Law and thus weaken it, then contact your Tennessee State Legislators and your Sullivan County, TN Commissioners.
Sullivan County Commissioners
Sullivan County does list phone numbers and some emails for the commissioners. Sullivan County Commissioners Sullivan County Commissioner’s District Map
Tennessee Senate
Click on the following link Tennessee Senate to find your Tennessee Sate Senator. You can enter your address to find the Senator for your area.
Tennessee House of Representatives
Click on the following link Tennessee House of Representatives to find your Tennessee Sate Senator. You can enter your address to find the Representative for your area.