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Birth date bill would cripple watchdog ability

THE OKLAHOMAN EDITORIAL | Modified: February 24, 2010 at 4:11 am | Published: February 24, 2010

WHEN an employee of the city of Oklahoma City got suspended last summer after it was learned federal grant funds may have been mishandled, the city wouldn’t release his date of birth to an Oklahoman reporter who sought to further investigate. Thus began a saga that has reached the state Capitol, where lawmakers appear all too eager to make it more difficult for such information to be released to the public in general and the media in particular.

photo - Gov. Brad Henry addressed a joint session of the Oklahoma legislature in the House chamber Monday afternoon, Feb, 4, 2008. This marks the opening session of the second session of the state's 51st legislature. Lawmakers applaud the governor as he delivers his address. From left, in front are Rep. Al McAffrey, Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Al Lindley. BY JIM BECKEL

Gov. Brad Henry addressed a joint session of the Oklahoma legislature in the House chamber Monday afternoon, Feb, 4, 2008. This marks the opening session of the second session of the state's 51st legislature. Lawmakers applaud the governor as he delivers his address. From left, in front are Rep. Al McAffrey, Sen. Debbe Leftwich and Rep. Al Lindley. BY JIM BECKEL

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Reporter Bryan Dean wanted Ed Martin’s DOB in order to differentiate him from any other Ed Martin. The city cited two exemptions to the state’s Open Records Act in denying...
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