From the PITTSBURGH OBSERVER-REPORTER:
…Many in Montgomery County find that hard to believe, and “Breakfastgate” has prompted State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Norristown, to announce plans to introduce legislation aimed at strengthening the Sunshine Act, even as far as calling for jail time for the most egregious offenders. “If politicians violate the Sunshine law and knowingly deceive the public with some type of vote based on an illegal meeting, then I think they should be incarcerated,” he said.
Sunshine Act violations are normally considered summary offenses, punishable by fines up to $100 and court costs. Civil and criminal penalties are available under the law but are rarely imposed by judges.
If jail sentences for Sunshine Act violators were common here, Washington County Jail would be so overcrowded as to force hot-bunking…
Click here to read the full article.
EDITOR: We continue to believe that Sunshine Laws are impractical and unenforceable. Why would we not want our elected officials to talk except once a week or once a month at a public meeting? Would we run a company like that?
What is needed is requirements that no matter can be enacted in a single session and that a week must pass before a second vote, which allows time for public and media review and time for public discussion.
Had LCCCA chairman Ted Darcus been required to put to vote on successive weeks the Lancaster County Convention Center agreements with Penn Square Partners and High, there would have been adequate opportunity for the minority members to have reviewed the documents, alert media (for what good that may have done), and objected to specific provisions.
