During Sunshine Week, Oklahoma Voice highlights the importance of public records and transparent government. Journalists at Oklahoma Voice use open records requests to uncover how decisions are made in government. Recently, they found that Gov. Kevin Stitt used a state plane for travel through these requests. However, responses to these requests can be hindered by high fees, slow responses, or exemptions. Last year, one agency initially estimated that fulfilling a records request could cost over $900 before waiving the fee after being reminded of a state law that prohibits charging for search fees. Journalists play a vital role as watchdogs in holding the government accountable, but they can’t do their job without access to public records. Oklahoma Voice relies on support from the public to continue their work in reporting on what the public has a right to know. It’s crucial for citizens to support organizations like Oklahoma Voice that work to keep the government transparent and accountable. By shining a light on the importance of public records during Sunshine Week, we can ensure that the government is held to a high standard of transparency and accountability.
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