Open record laws require access for a reason

The state legislature has done a very bad thing. It is important that you pay attention and not yawn and turn away from this editorial.

Last Friday both houses passed SB6117 exempting themselves from open record mandates passed by voters – you. Local governments and state agencies must follow open record requirements, but in response to losing a court case, the legislature changed the rules for themselves, retroactive to statehood. The gall.

Newspaper owners are up in arms. You need to be also. Reporters use records of communications between large monied interests and legislators to shed...