Whatever's happening in Washington, the information revolution is slower in some state capitals.
It took 18 months, a lawsuit, and a new Pennsylvania governor for the Philadelphia Daily News to secure an electronic list of 82,034 state employees -- the same information that's been available to the public for years on microfiche at the state library in Harrisburg.
Former Gov. Robert P. Casey refused to provide a computer tape of the state payroll, with no explanation beyond saying he was satisfied with the old arrangements. The Daily News sued in Commonwealth Court and Casey stalled. He left office January. His successor, Gov. Tom Ridge, settled the case by turning over the computer tape three weeks after taking office.
Pennsylvania reporters remain hampered by a 1957 public records law that doesn't mention computers, requiring only that public officials establish "reasonable rules" for providing copies of public documents. The Allentown Morning Call's Jack Kraft and David Washburn recently reported on the trouble this has meant for local governments, citizen groups and journalists throughout the state.
Ridge said during his 1994 campaign that if a government document is considered public when it's on paper, then the same information should be accessible to the public in electronic formats, technology permitting. State legislator Stewart Greenleaf has sponsored legislation to that effect. But to become law, it needs approval from a state Senate that still denies the public even paper copies of Senate payroll and expense records.
Bob Warner can be reached at (215) 854-5885 or send e-mail to bwarner@omni.voicenet.com.