LA
HOUSE RECEIVES OPEN GOVERNMENT AWARD
The Louisiana House of Representative
was honored today with the inaugural
Melvin Dakin Open Government Award. The
award was presented to the House of
Representatives for opening the
legislative process for “the average
citizen.” The award was presented by
Common Cause/Louisiana, a statewide
organization that actively promotes
openness and accountability in
government.
In making the presentation in the House
Chamber, Common Cause President Dave
Zimmerman said, “Common Cause/Louisiana
greatly appreciates what the House of
Representatives has done to open the
legislative process to the average
citizen. We recognize the House
leadership’s commitment of time, energy
and money in this effort.
Louisiana is well
served by having a House of
Representatives committed to open
meetings, advanced notice of
committee
schedules on the
Internet, and
live broadcasts of
meetings.
We
are particularly impressed by the
digital recording of committee meetings,
and by the
archiving of those
records. We’d like
to make special mention of former
Speaker Pro Tempore Emile “Peppi”
Bruneau, House and Governmental Affairs
Committee Chairman Charles Lancaster,
and former speakers Hunt Downer and
Charles DeWitt for their steadfastness
in assuring that the House remains
committed to open government.”
The award is named for LSU Law Professor
Melvin Dakin who was a charter member
and long-term leader of Common
Cause/Louisiana. In all his work, he
advocated an open government that
represents the interests of all
citizens. Professor Dakin recently died
at age 93. |