In his inaugural address, Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, promised a state government that was open and transparent to the people. But his administration has fallen far short of that goal, as revealed in a Fox 31 TV report Monday. Now, in the aftermath of the State Patrol's refusal to release flight records to Face The State, lawmakers are asking if Ritter will ever live up to his lofty rhetoric.
Jones (top) and GardnerFox 31 TV
Since our launch in March 2007, Face The State has become a leader in using the Colorado Open Records Act to expose government waste, fraud and corruption. That is, when bureaucrats and elected officials choose to comply with the law. Some lawmakers, fearful of bad press following public disclosure, have even introduced legislation to exempt themselves from state open records law.
Gov. Ritter - the most defiant official we've dealt with - is fighting at least two open-records lawsuits challenging his refusal to disclose information to the press. Face The State sued Ritter in November 2007 seeking the release of a memo sent to him by lawyers for the powerful Service Employees International Union. Government lawyers argue the contested attachment, which contains draft legislative language - should be shielded from public view. That case is currently on appeal from the Denver District Court.
Last week, The Denver Post sued Ritter to obtain cell phone records of calls made in the execution of public business. His office maintains that information is not subject to release because the calls were made on his personal line, rather than the phone issued to him by the state. In the Fox 31 report, editorial page editor Dan Haley says state law applies to official business, regardless the ownership of the phone.
Most recently, the Colorado State Patrol has denied a Face The State request to review flight manifests for travel using the state's fleet of five airplanes, citing security concerns. In its refusal, public information officer Lance Clem says the release of that information would not serve the "public interest."
Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, doesn't buy the excuse. "This administration has a horrible record when it comes to transparency," he said.
FTS managing editor Brad Jones questioned Ritter's motivations in allowing a state agency to operate outside of public scrutiny. "If the Governor is as squeaky clean as he wants us to believe he is, then why not open up these records?" he asked.
While the denial came from the Department of Public Safety, its director is a Ritter appointee and is subject to the Governor's direction. Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer told Fox 31 Ritter's is "the most open of all Colorado Governors' administrations."
Streaming video of the report is available at MyFoxColorado.com.