On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Southern Utah University students Abby Bedont and Martin Wood led the Pizza and Politics discussion on government transparency.
Wood began by posing the question, “Where do you find your information about the government?”
An audience member immediately responded by saying, “‘The Wall Street Journal’ emails me every morning.” Another chimed in, “This is probably not a good thing, but I get mine from stuff that pops up on Twitter [X]. It’s good and bad, I suppose.”
An important milestone in government transparency that Bedont noted was the Electronic Freedom of Information Act of 1996. She detailed a quote from then President Bill Clinton that said, “New technology is allowing for greater [government] transparency.”
Bedont followed with an inquiry, “Why do you think presidents have opposed transparency?”
The question solicited multiple responses by different members of the audience, the first saying, “If nobody’s watching what you’re doing, then you can do whatever you want.” He continued, “I think as long as you have what you want to do to cover it up, you can get by with a lot.”
Another attendee spoke up, “I think out of worry, and sometimes rightfully so, that if information was in the wrong hands then it could be bad. Some transparency hurts if we’re giving out information too easily.”
Bedont described the history of government transparency, saying, “In 1966, the Freedom of Information Act was signed into law. This law made it so that citizens can request access to federal agency reports.”
Focusing on current events, Wood described the bills proposed in the 2023 congressional session. “There have been 672 bills related to transparency introduced, four of which have become law.”
Bedont and Wood highlighted exemptions to what information the government has to release, including:
— Information that is classified to protect national security.
— Information related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency.
— Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
— Trade secrets, commercial or financial information that is confidential or privileged.
— Information that, if disclosed, would invade another individual’s personal privacy.
— Geological information on wells.
Afterward, Bedont expressed what she thinks the government should be more transparent in. “I think they should be transparent in their financial statements because that’s what our tax dollars are going to. We should know what the money is going towards.”
Next week’s Pizza and Politics discussion is on sex education.
Story: Brig Pyfer
Photographer: Lukas Hassell
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
