Open record ruling protects Legislature
Open record ruling protects Legislature

By John Greiner Comments 4
Published: July 25, 2008

Written or electronic exchanges between legislators are not subject to the Open Records Act, the attorney general said Thursday.

The communications aren't open because the Legislature and legislators don't come within the act's definition of a public body, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

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IN OTHER BUSINESS

•ETHICS RULES: Attorney General Drew Edmondson issued an opinion saying the Oklahoma Ethics Commission has authority to withdraw new rules after they've been presented to the Legislature and the governor if the rules haven't taken effect yet. State Rep. Mike Reynolds requested it.

•WINERIES: Edmondson issued an opinion saying state law doesn't permit a consumer who has bought a whole bottle of wine at a winery to drink it there. He also said a whole bottle of wine sold by the winery is not a sample that can be opened and served to visitors there. The opinion was requested by Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau.

However, any legislator's written or electronic communication to a public body or official is subject to the act, Edmondson said.

Also, any written or electronic communication from a public agency or official to the Legislature or a legislator is open, he said.

State Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, asked Edmondson for legal opinions on open records issues involving the Legislature, including expenditures. Edmondson said records of expenses incurred by legislators or their employees in their official duties and reimbursed to them are open records.