Public’s right to know gains victory with House passage of Pryor measure

For immediate release:
Jan. 30, 2014

STATEHOUSE – In a victory for the public’s right to know, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) was able to secure legislative approval for a proposal that helps provide more accountability and transparency in the operations of the Indiana Attorney General’s office.

The proposal, included in House Bill 1005, requires the Attorney General to provide information on all settlements and judgments that the office is a party to that have a monetary impact.

“This information must be posted on the state’s transparency portal within 30 days after the settlement or judgment is reached,” Pryor said. “That posting would include the names of the parties involved in the case, the dollar amounts of the settlement or judgment, and where those funds are being placed within the state budget.”

Pryor said her proposal was designed simply to give the people of Indiana a chance to find out more information about cases that involve taxpayer dollars.

“Even if the Attorney General’s office provides this information, it is not easy to find on the website operated by the state of Indiana,” Pryor noted. “Since there has been a reported commitment to increasing public awareness of the operations of state government, this small change should help keep us aware of how tax dollars are being used.”

Approval of the proposal marks one success in the efforts of Pryor and other lawmakers to improve accountability and transparency. Earlier this session, House Republicans rejected a plan requiring the state’s Inspector General to provide more timely updates on investigations conducted by that office.

“I always will work to see that the people of Indiana get every chance to know what their state government is doing at all times,” Pryor said.