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Freedom of Information

The High Road Service Center is committed to an open democratic process.

After September 11th, 2001, government functions have become more secretive than ever. The recent Enron scandal highlights the right to know connections between government and industry. Because the Federal FOIA does not always cover state records, many states do not have a strong open records law in place. If we want open democracy, we need to address this issue in the states.

Any citizen can use a strong state open records law to keep the government accountable. For instance, using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you can:

Look at hazardous waste sites and chemical company records to see if any poisons have leaked into your neighborhood or to see what types of chemicals are stored nearby.
Determine what is being dumped in a landfill near your home.
Find out if an oil company has the authority to drill off the beach by your community.
Locate zoning information and the cost of a planned expressway behind your house.
Know the facilities that manufacture, process or use more than 100 pounds of lead, which is highly toxic, and release it into the air, land and water.

The HRSC would like to give special thanks to the State Environmental Resources Center, the Bauman Foundation and OMB Watch for promoting the Right to Know (RTK) and forwarding the cause of freedom of government information.