Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Today Lt. Governor David Dewhurst announced the creation of a new Senate Select Committee on Open Government. The committee will review issues relating to transparency in state government public information and open records.
We have a responsibility to ensure that the peoples business is being conducted ethically and openly said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. The Select Committee on Open Government will encourage transparency and accountability in the legislative process and help preserve the publics trust in our state government and elected leaders.
The Select Committee on Open Government will be chaired by
Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) and
Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) will serve as Vice-Chairman. Appointees to the committee include:
Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)
Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) and Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano).
The committee will focus on the following issues:
- How advances in technology have changed dissemination of information especially as it relates to open records
- Ways in which state and local governments can provide more information online so citizens have greater access to budgets spending and other government business
- How citizen participation in public meetings and hearings can be enhanced
- How the emergence of various forms of social media have affected communications by and within governmental bodies
Senator Wentworth resigned from the post of Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations and Lt. Governor Dewhurst has appointed Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) as his replacement.
