Sunshine law idea gets delayed again in NC

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — An effort to make it harder to keep public
records secret or to close government meetings has been delayed
again in the North Carolina House after lawmakers question the
usefulness of the measure without a constitutional amendment.

The House Rules Committee adjourned without taking action Monday
night on a “sunshine” bill that would require exceptions to
open-government laws receive a three-fifths vote of House and
Senate members present. Committee members questioned whether such a
measure had any force since legislators could amend the law with a
simple majority.

An earlier version of the bill would have enshrined the
supermajority rule in a constitutional amendment, but it didn’t
have enough support on the floor. Bill sponsor Rep. Stephen LaRoque
of Kinston says he will try another version of the amendment.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)