Dems back Kuehner plan for online records
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterAtlantic County Freeholder Alisa Beth Cooper says he will push the GOP-controlled Freeholder Board to adopt Egg Harbor Township Mayor Joe Kuehner's online public records initiative.
Yesterday, Kuehner, the Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the poltically competitive 2nd district, announced his plan to make budget and payroll information free and easily available online. Kuehner's plan would cover state and local government.
Sheriff James McGettigan, the Democratic candidate for Atlantic County Executive, and Freeholder Joseph Kelly joined in their support of Kuehner's proposal.
“The taxpayers pay for this government,� said Kelly “There is simply no downside to implementing this system now.�
Contributors
Wally Edge
Mercer County Freeholder Keith Hamilton met with members of his political team yesterday to tell them that he will soon form an exploratory committee ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
The Star Ledger got it right last April when it gave a thumb's-up to the NJN management plan to wean “the state's only public ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
Whenever I get the chance to visit my parents in Florida when working a comedy gig down there, it’s like living in a “Seinfeld” episode. They ... >
Juan Melli
In an election year driven by a hemorrhaging economy and an electorate hungry for an end to divisive politics, 7th Congressional District candidate ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A press release on the official Union County web site admittedly made me snicker just a bit today because it brought back to mind something my late ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Christie to resign effective Dec. 1
- Pennacchio calls on GOP state chairman to resign
- Bryant guilty on all counts
- Lonegan gubernatorial announcement coming next month
- Wilson not certain whether he’ll stay on as GOP State Chairman after June
- Governor reacts to Christie news
- Merkt calls for Wilson's resignation
- Quinnipiac: Corzine 42%, Christie 36%
- After running as a local Obama, Hawkins runs early into the hard edge of Orange
- Mallet defeats Curley, Monmouth Freeholder Board becomes Democratic-controlled
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
- Jersey City councilman makes it rain in Washington
- Torricelli on deer hunting
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"What's been happening in the markets has brought out so many emotions. ... We are feeling it too. Our job is to be level-headed and cool and to run the portfolio. I think we are going to turn this around." -- An optimistic William Clark, the director of the state division of investment, after losing $25 billion in pension funds since July.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Corzine likely to go nowhere― THE DAILY RECORD
SILENT ON CHARGE; LIPSKI TELLS OF ALCOHOL BATTLE― STEVEN LIPSKI
Reclaiming the narrative of an enlightened nation ― CORY BOOKER
Syndicate
Egg Harbor Documents Online?
Is every document that could be OPRA'd on the Egg Harbor website?
I don't think so, because a Google search of the site for the word "OPRA" doesn't come up with a single hit. The home page doesn't have an OPRA link. The RESOURCE DIRECTORY pdf linked off the home page doesn't list an OPRA officer for any department.
How about getting your own town to do just basic OPRA stuff online -- like a form to fill out or a phone number to call for help -- before demanding that every other government in the state put all their documents up?
Yeah, I'm a Democrat but I just don't like hypocritical grandstanding.
Learn to read
You obviously didn't read Kuehner's press-release. "Kuehner noted that some local towns already post video recordings of town meetings, minutes and other agenda items online. But he said that was not enough." "Kuehner said he will lead by example by having his town post all of its public records online." He made the announcement yesterday - The "internet" wasn't built in a day - and all the records won't go online with the snap of your finger. How is that hypocritical? We have a Mayor championing reform - admitting that more has to be done to make government transparent -- and you, a Republican schill, doesn't like it. Well at least come out and say that - you're a GOP hack, and you'll never support an initiative introduced by a Dem no matter how great.
Will the Mayor and State Senator (Mr. Dual office holder) Sonny McCullough post all of his towns record online?
Why don't you challenge McCullough to follow Kuehner's lead?
I can read, can you?
I didn't ask for him to have all his documents on the website, but just the basics. This is what I wrote, with new emphasis on the important part:
There isn't even a link to an OPRA request form on it, or a link to the law, or a phone number, or a direction to go to the clerk to get OPRA documents.
There isn't one mention of OPRA on his city's website. If he really cared about transparency and OPRA on the Internet, at some point during his Mayoralty he would have done at least mentioned it on the Internet.
But he has never even considered it until he was a candidate for higher office. I stand by everything I wrote.