A sunny step forward

It was a spring tradition that a columnist could count on, or so I thought.

About this time each year, for the last five years, I would pound out a column hammering the Iowa Legislature for failing to, yet again, create a panel, board, authority or agency to enforce open meetings and records laws. No matter which party was in charge, who was governor, the pollen count, barometric pressure, etc., somehow, the promising enforcement bill would tumble onto a Statehouse scrap heap, usually in the Iowa House.

Then I'd get all outraged and tap out a real gem of righteous indignation, arguing that lawmakers just don't seem to care how crazy difficult it is for residents to simply see to it that local elected officials follow state law. I've been known to work up quite a lather lambasting legislators.

And then, wouldn't you know it, this week the House passed a bill creating an Iowa Public Information Board with the power to investigate resident complaints and levy significant penalties when it determines the law is being broken. The board also will provide training for elected officials with hopes of avoiding transparency troubles.

Senate passage will send the bill to Gov. Terry Branstad, who is eager to sign it into law.

So now I have to give them credit. Never easy. But it's a big deal, broadly bipartisan, good for Iowa and long overdue.

I know this bill gets panned by critics as some pesky media assistance act. But this really is about helping Iowans challenge local officials who they believe are denying them the right to witness important decisions being made and tax dollars being spent. Currently, those residents either must turn to local officials who work for or with the accused lawbreakers, or make a long, pricey trip to court.

That's a lousy system. When local governments pass ordinances, they expect swift, sure enforcement. Residents should get the same when it comes to laws governing transparency.

Is the bill perfect? No, of course not. The board has no jurisdiction over the Legislature or Governor's Office. That's too bad, but, luckily, there's no shortage of watchdogs tracking the big dogs at the Statehouse. The real need is in counties and towns where average folks need a law with some teeth to back them up.

I also hope lawmakers don't think we're all done with sunshine now. For starters, we've got an open meetings law that apparently allows unelected school superintendents to preside over months of closed-door committee meetings on critical issues, such as school closings, with no legal obligation for openness. That needs to change.

So, congrats. Now, what's next?