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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Leaders praise retiring Talent police Chief Mike Moran ... Capturing autumn beauty: Winners of our 2015 Fall Colors Photo Contest ... 20,000-tree solution: How historic Ashland ranch project is keeping irrigation districts afloat ... Leaders praise retiring Talent police Chief Mike Moran ... Capturing autumn beauty: Winners of our 2015 Fall Colors Photo Contest ... 20,000-tree solution: How historic Ashland ranch project is keeping irrigation districts afloat ... OUR VIEW Our View: Public records reform shouldn't add to bureaucracy Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 21, 2015 at 4:01 PM Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 21, 2015 at 4:01 PM » Social News Gov. Kate Brown's pledge to pursue public records reform is welcome news, if it leads to real improvement in government agencies' response to records requests. But those improvements should focus on the agencies themselves, not on creating a new state bureaucracy. After Gov. John Kitzhaber's resignation, the 2015 Legislature considered a number of bills aimed at improving government transparency and responsiveness, especially in light of Kitzhaber's reluctance to turn over records from his troubled administration. Few of those bills passed; one that did requested an audit of state agencies' responses to public records requests. The audit report, released Tuesday, examined nine state agencies. Auditors found that "routine" requests for records — about 90 percent of them — were fulfilled in two weeks or less. But more complex requests could take many months, and agencies charged high and sometimes inconsistent fees. Brown said she would use her executive powers to direct agencies to standardize fees and timelines. A bill proposed by Republicans during the 2015 session would have set strict time and fee limits, but it did not pass. It remains to be seen whether Brown's executive orders will have as much effect. The audit recommended creating a new ombudsman position to mediate disputes between the public and state agencies over records requests, help the public file requests and help agencies comply with them. Brown said she would introduce legislation in 2016 to do that, but the details remain unclear. An entity to represent the public could be a positive step, but it should not be allowed to grow into a new state agency complete with its own staff. If state law sets clear limits on fees and response times, it shouldn't take a separate entity to "help" agencies do their jobs. Equally important is dealing with the more than 400 exemptions that have been added to public records laws over the years — far more than in other states. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has convened a working group to tackle that issue and propose legislation in 2017. A similar attempt by Attorney General John Kroger in 2011 foundered in the face of opposition from local governments. Brown and Rosenblum need to start now to build support for that effort, or it will suffer the same fate. The public has a right to know what their government is doing, and state laws should vigorously enforce that right. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 21, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 21, 2015 at 4:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501