The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The 1st Amendment Who Really Cares?

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

4 October 2000

The First Amendment, what does it mean to you :or, do you even care?

This weekend, Illinois Press Association dedicated the "Copley First Amendment Center" and introduced members of the newly organized First Amendment Board.

IPA President Dave Bennett said, "This is the beginning of a brand new intuitive we think will have a lasting impact around the state."

IPA Board President Cheryl Wormley of the Woodstock Independent heralded Dave Bennett and the IPA for reaching out and lifting up the first amendment.

John Foreman of the News-Gazette in Champaign, First Amendment board Chair said he doubted if anyone attending doubts the need. "There's always someone who wants to silent the press."

"Our need to feel good about each other is more important," Foreman said.

Foreman said the writers of the first amendment were the ones who cared. "They knew if we want to live in a free society, they felt this was most important to put if first:"

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Copley's Harold W. Fuson, Jr. of LaJolla, California who's first job was at the Galesburg Register Mail was keynote speaker.

"The human desire of what others think about us causes us to suppress the truth," he said, reminding "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive :our mothers."

There are the libel laws to protect falsehoods and reputations and it seems the law is shifting to privacy laws. This adds to the sum of things we don't know - therefore we can not fix."

In a debate on "Politics vs. People's Right to Know" issues of non-compliance to access laws were debated among Dave Bennett, Ill. Attorney General Jim Ryan, State Senator Ed Petka, State Rep. Barb Currie, IL Municipal League Counsel Roger Huebner, Daily Southtown News Columnist Phil Kadner, U of I Public Affairs Jim Nowlan, and Indiana's first "Access Counselor" Ann O'Connor.

A statewide investigation found severe problems there in gaining "access" to public documents. Their Governor was furious and an office was set up to address the problems under O'Connor.

There are intentional cover-ups, but many officials just don't know the law or in some instances have been given bad advice by lawyers.

Ryan wants to see the Attorney General's office in charge of Access and Compliance as a mediator and an expert advisor that businesses and citizens can call on.

"Our goal would be for mediation and compliance, not litigation." He said everyone should be given one chance to comply.

With an Access Help Line, office holders would have a place to seek out meaning information to help them do their job.

According to Barbara Currie, in 1983, Illinois was the last state to adopt a Freedom of Information act. "Mississippi beat us out by only a few months."

Most office holders don't mean to break the Freedom of Information laws, they are just ignorant to them. Their prevailing attitude that records they are keeping are their records rather than the publics' concern them. "They forget they are the custodians only."

"There are people who don't want to do public business in the public," one said.

O'Connor said her purpose is to advise, educate, and give opinions. "They are happy to have someone to assist them."

Local attorneys sometimes giving bad advise, "Local attorneys are not bad people, they just don't work with these laws as much," she said. As lawyers, their job is to keep information and protect it. A lot of attorneys don't read the Freedom of Information laws. The public wants to do what they should, but they are confused when the local attorney tells them "no."

O'Connor, now in her second year with one assistant this year, has made 2,800 contacts, 110 education programs, has written more than 80 opinions and has set up a web site with her opinions where anyone can gain access to. Her office budget is $157,000.

I am in hopes that Illinois will establish an office to help enforce the Freedom Of Information Act. It's a much better way to go rather than taking offenders to court.