Government secrecy persists at the state level, as the Minnesota Health Commissioner suppressed a report on cancer deaths among miners and at the federal level we read of frequent refusals of the Bush administration to provide information.
Citizens need to be informed of their government's actions and operations. Voters should know that Bill Richardson is the only presidential candidate to sign the Public Service Pledge, a promise to adhere to principles of open government if elected. Developed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the Public Service Pledge calls upon candidates to commit their presidency to the following:
n Conduct the people's business in the open and facilitate oversight by keeping vital documents in the public domain;
n Protect scientists who report inconvenient truths and remove from office those who manipulate public agency science for political ends; and
n Support public servants who tell the truth and exhibit zero tolerance for appointees who retaliate or condone retaliation against whistleblowers.
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More than a month after this pledge was offered to the presidential candidates, only Bill Richardson is promising to defend your right to know.
For more information, see http://www.peer.org/news/
news_id.php?row_id906.
Steve R. Marquardt
Lake Lillian
