Vito Backs New Open Meeting Bill

The House State Affairs Committee gave a far different reception this morning to Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, for his new version of legislation to raise the fines for violations of the Idaho Open Meeting Law. Bateman modified his proposal to raise the fines from the current $50 to $250; and from the current $500 to $1,500 for knowing violations, and to $2,500 for repeated knowing violations. “I think that this is an excellent edit of the last bill,” Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said. “I hope that the district attorneys and those that are given information about these violations will now find it worth their time to pursue these a little bit more diligently than we’ve seen in the past. Thank you”/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Do you consider strong Open Meeting Laws are important?