Public Hearing on Bill to Hide Public Employee Names draws dozens
The public hearing on LD 1353, a bill that would hide public employee names from public access and attempt to shut down MaineOpenGov.org, drew a large crowd at the State House Thursday afternoon and into the evening.
(click on the names below to read the written testimony)
Supporters of the bill, six in all, included Senator Lisa Marrache of Waterville, Senator Deb Simpson of Auburn, Timothy Belcher, the Executive Director of the Maine State Employees Association and Bruce Hodsdon, The President of the Maine State Employees Association.
Fifteen people testified in opposition to LD 1353, including Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, Mal Leary, President of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition Jeff Inglis, Managing Editor of the Portland Phoenix, and , Chris Cinquemani, Public Affairs Director at Maine Leads. Also testifying were Pem Schaeffer of Brunswick and the President of Maine Taxpayers United, Gary Foster
As you can watch in the video below, the bills sponsor, Senator Lisa Marrache, contends that posting this public information is dangerous, and that allowing people to comment anonymously on the public information is wrong and there should be government censorship applied.
More Video to come later….