These are Katrina’s remarks from her participation the Sunshine Week Rally at the State House today.
Good afternoon. My name is Katrina Shealy and I am the conservative Republican candidate running for SC Senate District 23.
I want to thank Jane Page Thompson for organizing this Rally, and Representative Taylor for sponsoring an improvement to the State’s Freedom of Information law. I am honored to be here to address this important government transparency issue.
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act was established to allow ordinary citizens to have access to information concerning their government. The law guarantees every person the right to obtain government documents, and records, and to attend government meetings. The SC Freedom of Information Act is a great law because it requires government to do its business in an open and public manner so that the citizens who pay for government are aware of the decisions made by their elected officials.
House Bill 3235 makes the FOIA law and even better law by limiting printing costs for FOIA requests to fair market value, and by removing the ability for government agencies to charge fees for a government employee’s time to fulfill a FOIA request.
There are multiple incidents reported around our state of government bodies that are requiring outrageous fees to fulfill a citizen’s FOIA request. We all know that when this happens it is a bureaucratic, political ploy to keep potentially condemning information from getting in the hands of citizens, or media. In others words, it is a way to get around the intent of the law. This is why House Bill 3235 is necessary. It removes loop holes and protects a citizen’s right to open and transparent government.
House Bill 3235 is a strong measure that protects taxpayers and allows them to be fully informed about the government they pay for. This is why I am supporting House Bill 3235 and I am asking the SC General Assembly to pass this bill, this year.
House Bill 3235 is great, but it gets even better with the amendment offered by Representative Rick Quinn. The Quinn amendment holds lawmakers accountable to FOIA requirements, just like the agencies they oversee. It is absolutely wrong for lawmakers to think they are above the law, and the Quinn amendment doesn’t allow legislators to be exempt from FOIA requirements.
I will be following House Bill 3235 and I will have particular interest in the actions of the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding this bill.
You see, I am running against longtime Senator Jakie Knotts. Jakie is the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and this committee will be the gate-keeper for the FOIA bill in the Senate. In fact, why don’t you join me in contacting Senator Knotts this week to let him know we expect him to push this legislation through the Senate, with the Quinn amendment?
Thank you for coming out this afternoon to support Sunshine Week and House Bill 3235.
I am Katrina Shealy: the conservative Republican candidate for SC Senate District 23.
I am a principled, accountable leader and I am prepared to lead on transparency in the SC Senate.
Please go to KatrinaShealy.com to learn more about how you can help me bring more sunshine to the SC Senate.
Thank you for all you do to hold South Carolina government accountable!