The South Carolina Policy Council Archive

Limited Government | Free Enterprise | Individual Liberty

Commentary Self Governance Transparency

Freedom of Information?

BySouth Carolina Policy Council

Oct 3, 2012 #8 point reform agenda, #Ethics, #Freedom of Information, #Legislative Reform, #Reform agenda
FOR A ‘FREEDOM OF INFORMATION’ LAW, OURS DOESN’T ALLOW VERY MUCH INFORMATION

Want information about the way a state agency uses your tax dollars? Here’s the good news: nearly every agency of any size employs a full-time Public Information Officer whose job – as the title implies – is to provide the public with information about how the agency uses taxpayer resources. But here’s the bad news: Many of these Public Information Officers, or PIOs, don’t view their job in this way. Instead, they understand their role as roughly that of a “communications” or “P.R.” specialist at a private company: that is, as someone hired to promote the company’s achievements and put a positive “spin” on its failures or shortcomings.

Of course, taxpayers shouldn’t be required to pay for the agency and for someone to defend those temporarily in charge of it from criticism. But it’s at least understandable that PIOs should be employed in this way: the state’s Freedom of Information law allows them – indeed, virtually encourages them – to treat FOIA requests as nuisances to which they must give a minimal level of attention. Consider these three components of the state FOIA law:

(1) Slow response times

Suppose you’re a journalist or a concerned citizen and you want to find out how a state agency came to a certain decision. By federal and state law, you’re permitted to request photocopies of all papers and correspondence related to that decision. The agency must respond, even if only to tell you it doesn’t have anything. In South Carolina, however, the agency can take up to 15 business days to get back to you. Of the 35 states that have mandatory response times, South Carolina has the second or third longest (the discrepancy arises from the Iowa law’s failure to specify calendar or business days). Vermont, for example, has a two-day mandatory response time, and nine other states – Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico – require responses within three days.

But the response doesn’t actually have to include anything. It can simply acknowledge the request and say it will be addressed in due course; no action on the request is required. And beyond that, the agency can legally drag its feet, ultimately supplying the requested information weeks or months later, by which time the request may have lost its relevance. So, for example, the agency can wait until some potential news story blows over and any publication of the new information becomes old news.

Part of the problem, as one recent report pointed out, is there is no authority in South Carolina charged with enforcing FOIA compliance. Theoretically, the Attorney General could get involved, but the AG is an extremely large hammer to use for FOIA compliance. Another option is a lawsuit – indeed there is an ongoing lawsuit over FOIA compliance in the Upstate – but very few citizens or media organizations have the time, money, and willpower needed to sue state agencies.

(2) Exemptions

Further, our FOIA law is weakened by exemptions. There is, of course, the notorious exemption for lawmakers, deliberately written into the law in order to shield the lawmaking class from scrutiny. For their part, lawmakers and legislative staff have been shockingly brazen in invoking their exemption.

But there are other exemptions. Exempt, for example, are all “memoranda, correspondence, documents, and working papers relative to efforts or activities of a public body … to attract business or industry to invest within South Carolina.” In other words, incentive agreements are not subject to FOIA. True, the law specifies that these agreements are not exempt from FOIA once either the company accepts the offer or the deal has been announced publicly, but even then the law exempts all “confidential proprietary information provided to a public body for economic development,” and so the relevant department (usually Commerce) is free to redact almost anything it wants from the documents in question.

(3) Obscene charges

Worst of all, agencies can charge anything they want for the requisite information. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, for instance, can charge up to $110 per hour in “programming fees” (“That’s our policy,” the agency’s spokesman peremptorily told The Nerve). Other state agencies charge $29.76 per hour (Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services), $45 per hour (Commerce), and $30 per hour (Health and Human Services). In these and other cases, the agencies are charging far more than it costs them to fulfill the requests – this despite the fact that the taxpayers asking for the information already pay for a full-time employee to provide the public with information. Taxpayers are, after all, these agencies’ employers: they’ve already paid the bills; why should they have to pay again for requested information?

Apart from the common misunderstanding of their Public Information Officers’ role, why the high charges? It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that the high prices for information are meant to deter. Many citizens – and many news organizations, including The Nerve – simply don’t have the money to pay the exorbitant fees levied by agencies for information requests.

A bill introduced last year in the legislature would have banned agencies from charging for staff time spent on FOIA requests; banned them from charging more than commercial rates for photocopies and other paperwork; and shortened the mandatory response time from 15 business days to 15 calendar days. And – perhaps most important of all – the bill would have imposed a 30- to 45-day deadline on actually providing the information. Agencies would no longer be free to drag out FOIA requests indefinitely.

The bill passed the House almost unanimously, but it was killed in the Senate. Why? Because it included an amendment striking legislators’ exemption from FOIA. Which tells you all you need to know about where some lawmakers’ priorities really lie.

Like this analysis? Click here to get our weekly e-bulletin.

By South Carolina Policy Council

Since 1986 the South Carolina Policy Council Education Foundation has advocated innovative policy ideas that advance the principles of limited government and free enterprise. The Policy Council is the state’s meeting place for business leaders, policymakers, and academics – as well as engaged citizens – who want to see South Carolina become the most free state in the nation. For questions or comments on the articles on this website, please email Research Director Jamie Murguia.

Related Post

Featured Publications Research Transparency

Seven steps to make S.C. government more transparent

Dec 1, 2022 South Carolina Policy Council
Featured Research Transparency

Transparency check-in: streaming at the Statehouse

Jul 27, 2022 South Carolina Policy Council
Commentary

SCPC celebrates historic tax relief and reform

Jun 17, 2022 South Carolina Policy Council
120 thoughts on “Freedom of Information?”

  106. There is no shortage of options inside the fast-developing sports activities pharmacology
    market when discovering the right product on your wants.
    Our on-line store not solely sells a broad variety of sports drugs, but we additionally assure their efficacy.
    This part collects any knowledge citations, knowledge availability statements, or
    supplementary supplies included on this article. Some authors assessed visual inspection of
    packaging and detection of counterfeiting rate with contradicting results.
    Plus, Brutal Pressure is so assured in DBulk that they provide an industry-leading 100-day money-back guarantee.
    DBulk is one other Dianabol various to consider if you want to build critical muscle
    without the everyday unwanted effects.
    There’s 1,500mg of arachidonic acid per three capsules from the 30-serving
    container, providing wonderful anti-inflammatory effects.
    Each serving has a whopping 2,352mg of D-aspartic acid that helps
    with testosterone production and launch. Clenbuterol notably increases heart rate in our patients, which can also be supported
    by analysis (8). This happens because of extreme adrenaline manufacturing,
    placing unnecessary pressure on the center. From a security
    perspective, we discover Winsol to be the higher
    option, with none of the above side effects being a cause
    for concern.
    At Buy-Steroids.in, we believe that data is power—and one of the only ways
    to avoid scams and low-quality products is by learning from
    others’ experiences. Our evaluations help you avoid expensive errors and health risks by supplying you with actual insights from actual customers.
    Buying steroids is not just about discovering the bottom price—it’s about ensuring you get
    protected, respectable, and correctly dosed products that ship actual outcomes.
    The energetic ingredients take up shortly, and you can even stack
    this complement with Large Ecdysterone to maximise
    results over 2-3 months. TestoMax can be utilized for two months with a short 10-day break interval in between cycles.
    There are no major unwanted effects to fret about, because of the array of
    natural elements.
    Only authorized steroids from reputable producers with a proven observe
    report had been recommended. We totally reviewed the protection profile of each ingredient to minimize the risk of unwanted effects.
    Only legal steroids with secure ingredients, when taken as directed, are really helpful.

    In fourth place on my listing of the best authorized steroids is Testo-Max.
    SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) are compounds with an identical construction and performance to anabolic steroids however with fewer and milder side effects.

    In third place on my list of one of the best legal steroids is Testol one hundred forty.

    Second place on my list of the best authorized steroids goes to D-Bal Max.
    In humans, they are believed to behave as an anabolic agent, helping to construct muscle, improve energy, and enhance physical performance.
    Suma root is commonly referred to as “nature’s anabolic steroid” and has a proven capability to increase protein synthesis and muscle progress.
    We will also be pleased to offer you advice and reply
    any questions you may have regarding Roids
    USA steroids for sale on our web site.
    The solely different noteworthy competitor on social media was SDI Labs,
    with 2,994 Facebook fans, and Flexx Labs, with 1,671 followers.
    You can even purchase injectable steroids on mega-steroids, this site is basically
    positive and the place you’ll have the ability to generally get discount, so we recommend you to visit the positioning for more
    informations about that. If you’d wish to problem the trust rating assigned, we’re joyful to take a better
    look. Nevertheless, please be ready to supply proof of your
    small business’s legitimacy. Please note, we never charge web site house
    owners for evaluations or reconsideration requests.
    The website implements information assortment varieties requesting personal info together with names, email addresses, cellphone numbers, or other delicate particulars.

    Users ought to confirm the legitimacy of steroidsuser.com
    and evaluate privacy insurance policies earlier than submitting personal data.

    TBulk has been an excellent complement for helping me construct
    muscle, and I advocate it to anyone looking to do the same.
    Trenbolone, also recognized simply as ‘Tren,’ is probably considered
    one of the most popular steroids for rapid muscle features.
    If you’re critical about bodybuilding and need to get essentially
    the most out of your exercises, DBulk is worth making an attempt.
    I’m impressed with TestoPrime and highly recommend it to anyone who desires to
    construct muscle and really feel nice. Not Like steroids, TestoPrime helps your body produce the
    optimum amount of testosterone on your age.
    The geographic scope of the included studies is limited to 2 world regions, the
    place 37% and 63% respectively had been conducted,
    and these studies reported findings from the Americas (AMR) and Europe (EUR).
    Analysis within the Americas was only done in Brazil, which alone includes 7 of the 19 studies.

    In the case of Europe, the studies are divided amongst a number of international locations.
    The nation with the very best number of included research on this area is Germany
    with a complete of three research. In addition, other
    international locations from this area (Switzerland, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and
    Slovakia, Austria, and Belgium) are represented in our
    list of included studies.
    Compounds are chosen primarily based on how they work collectively, with dosages adjusted to match the user’s
    experience degree and particular objectives. Additionally, unlike anabolic steroid injections, a dose of
    Trenorol is in capsule form and are earlier than or after exercises.
    Bottles come with 90 capsules that present a 3-capsule dosage for 1 month.
    Testo-Max is really helpful for males over the age of 18 who are trying to improve their
    physical efficiency and muscle enhancing steroids growth.

    One of one of the best things about Testo-Max for efficiency enhancement is that it does
    additionally work to enhance your libido and total mood.
    It is protected to make use of and has no anabolic results, similar to impacting
    the liver or other organs.
    These websites have between 50 to 100 capsules of 10 mg Dianabol or D-bol oral steroids available for
    sale with deliveries to virtually anywhere all over the world upon cost and the location of your order.
    These are a number of the finest websites to purchase
    steroids, so next time you plan buying AAS, you’ll be able to take these sites into consideration. When it comes to
    purchasing steroids on-line you all the time
    should be careful and make a sensible choice.

    Only actual customers evaluations can help you to determine if it’s protected to
    buy from buy-steroids.on-line or you should stay away from this explicit vendor.

    We collected them from evaluations of their
    actual clients that you could see under our summary.

  107. You aren’t going to search out another legal steroid formulation out there that combines Ecdysterone and cyclodextrin together, turning you right into a
    legitimate monster within the gym virtually in a single day.
    For extra information regarding the risks of steroid abuse,
    please visit and Known As Operation Cyber Juice, the nationwide enforcement effort, which concerned greater
    than 30 U.S. investigations in 20 states, resulted in 90 arrests.
    Additionally, investigators seized 16 underground steroid labs; 134,000 doses of
    steroids; 636 kilograms of uncooked steroid powder; 8,200 liters of uncooked steroid injectable
    liquid; and greater than $2 million in money and assets.

    When you are looking for anabolic steroids on the market, you need to that in cutting cycles,
    steroids assist sculpt lean muscle mass for that chiseled look.

    They additionally assist quick restoration, allowing you to coach
    extra frequently and effectively. Furthermore,
    they’ve diuretic properties that flush further water
    from the body, eliminating bloating and providing you with a extra defined, vascular physique.
    HGH-X2 is all about eliminating the chance whereas offering the identical benefits, with the most important targets of
    this authorized HGH alternative being to deliver high
    quality muscle features, fast fat loss, and faster recovery times.
    HGH-X2 does this by naturally stimulating the release of human development hormone without you having to make use of any
    synthetic hormones.
    You’re going to notice big performance will increase virtually proper out of the
    gate, too. Others, though, have been nothing greater than huge marketing
    promises and slick packaging with supplements that fell nicely in need
    of my expectations (and the promises that
    the modern-day snake oil salesman peddling them made).
    However imagine for a second that you simply really could get all the same outcomes (or rattling
    close to it) that actual deal steroids bring to the desk with
    out having to worry about wrecking your health along
    the greatest way. Different negative features are leveled out when the dosage, period and dosage routine are appropriately selected
    and followed. Another essential benefit is that
    they’re more effectively utilized by the body
    and with their help you can achieve better outcomes than when taking oral medicines.
    Underground steroid labs like the ones uncovered domestically are typically stocked with the completed
    steroid product, raw steroid powder, the chemical substances wanted to make the conversion, and conversion kits with instructions.
    These merchandise are generally obtained over the Web from Chinese chemical manufacturing
    corporations and underground suppliers.
    If you should push past barriers and really feel you’ve reached a brick wall with your
    progress, HGH can get you past that time and on to expertise
    results that aren’t otherwise possible solely with steroids.
    HGH, when used appropriately at moderate doses for
    restricted intervals, doesn’t come with the severe side effects
    that we see with most anabolic steroids. Some folks will experience adverse impacts, principally joint ache,
    headaches, and flu-type signs. Some individuals won’t experience
    any unfavorable effects in any respect when utilizing HGH.
    Extra severe side effects are more probably to occur at very high doses or when HGH is used regularly for years, and this is
    to be averted. HGH could be combined with just about
    any anabolic steroid and used for any objective, including bulking.

    Athletes might take steroids for a sure period, cease,
    then begin again a quantity of instances a yr. Athletes
    also typically use many steroids on the same time (a apply
    known as stacking), and so they take them by totally different routes (by mouth, injection,
    or patch). They may improve the dose through a cycle (called
    pyramiding). Biking, stacking, and pyramiding are supposed to boost desired effects and
    reduce harmful effects, however little evidence supports these benefits.

    When stacking each, base your timing primarily on the longest-acting compound in the cycle.
    Many SARMs — especially Ostarine and RAD-140 — improve restoration, joint integrity,
    and endurance, allowing users to train harder, extra regularly, and with more
    depth while on cycle. You’d need to be slightly bit crazy to roll the dice with the
    sorts of chemical cocktails a lot of modern-day steroids
    have turn out to be. Especially the “boutique” stacks which are crammed with who is aware of what.
    In Contrast To supplements which are loaded with caffeine and
    other “shock boosters”, although, this elevated vitality
    level isn’t going to spike and fall like a roller coaster.
    As An Alternative you’ll enjoy pure, straightforward, effortless energy all
    through the day with no trouble whatsoever falling asleep every night time.

    Any potential development of toes, palms, and different exterior options would be noticeable and
    unlikely desired by most female HGH users. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before
    contemplating any hormone-related intervention, cycle planning,
    or post-cycle remedy. Misuse of those substances carries critical health risks, together with hormonal imbalance, organ stress, infertility,
    and cardiovascular complications. Before you
    construct a steroid stack, you need to define your major objective.
    Each compound impacts the physique in another way — some promote measurement and energy,
    others help shed fat or preserve lean tissue underneath
    stress.
    You will not see immediate or even somewhat fast outcomes with it, so it should be used at longer cycle lengths if it will be of any
    profit. As Soon As your testosterone base is in place, the next step is
    selecting which compounds to pair primarily based on your goal.
    This is the place stacking will get strategic — completely different combinations affect water retention, androgenic load, recovery,
    and aesthetics in very different ways. PCT protocols sometimes final between four to
    six weeks and should begin shortly after the steroid cycle ends,
    depending on the compounds used. For shorter-acting steroids, PCT might start within a few days, whereas longer-acting ones may require a delay of as
    much as two weeks.
    This permits for lowered aspect affects in areas such
    as the liver or skin. After being absorbed within the gut, Oral prohormones steroids necessarily then fall with the move
    of blood to the liver and adversely affect its condition.
    As injectable anabolics go instantly into the blood stream from the
    muscular tissues, bypassing the hepatic circulatory system, they promote less toxicity in path of the liver.

    HGH just isn’t legal to make use of for performance
    or bodybuilding purposes or any use exterior prescribed medical settings.

  108. ¡Saludos, exploradores de la suerte !
    Casinosextranjerosenespana.es – Tu guГ­a de confianza – https://www.casinosextranjerosenespana.es/# casinos extranjeros
    ¡Que vivas increíbles jackpots extraordinarios!

  109. ¡Hola, aventureros de la fortuna !
    Casino online fuera de EspaГ±a sin requisitos pesados – п»їп»їhttps://casinoonlinefueradeespanol.xyz/ casino online fuera de espaГ±a
    ¡Que disfrutes de asombrosas premios extraordinarios !

  110. ¡Saludos, fanáticos del entretenimiento !
    Mejores botes en casinos online extranjeros – https://casinosextranjero.es/# casino online extranjero
    ¡Que vivas increíbles instantes inolvidables !

  111. AlbertTus

    The Real Person!

    Author AlbertTus acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    The Real Person!

    Author AlbertTus acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
    says:

    ¡Saludos, exploradores de tesoros !
    ComparaciГіn entre casinos online extranjeros – https://www.casinoextranjerosenespana.es/# п»їcasinos online extranjeros
    ¡Que disfrutes de éxitos excepcionales !

  112. ¡Bienvenidos, aventureros del desafío !
    Casino fuera de EspaГ±a con tutoriales en vivo – https://www.casinoporfuera.guru/ п»їcasino fuera de espaГ±a
    ¡Que disfrutes de maravillosas botes impresionantes!

  113. Sonnylit

    The Real Person!

    Author Sonnylit acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    The Real Person!

    Author Sonnylit acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
    says:

    ¡Hola, descubridores de oportunidades!
    Mejores casinos online extranjeros con bonos sin verificaciГіn – https://www.casinoextranjero.es/ mejores casinos online extranjeros
    ¡Que vivas giros exitosos !

  114. RobertFup

    The Real Person!

    Author RobertFup acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.

    The Real Person!

    Author RobertFup acts as a real person and verified as not a bot.
    Passed all tests against spam bots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
    says:

    ¡Hola, aventureros del riesgo !
    Casinos online extranjeros para jugadores sin restricciones – п»їhttps://casinosextranjerosdeespana.es/ mejores casinos online extranjeros
    ¡Que vivas increíbles giros exitosos !

  115. ¡Saludos, fanáticos de las apuestas !
    casino online fuera de EspaГ±a sin censura – п»їhttps://casinosonlinefueraespanol.xyz/ casinosonlinefueraespanol
    ¡Que disfrutes de rondas vibrantes !

  116. ¡Bienvenidos, exploradores de oportunidades !
    casinofueraespanol.xyz con opciones de juego anГіnimo – https://www.casinofueraespanol.xyz/# casinos fuera de espaГ±a
    ¡Que vivas increíbles victorias legendarias !

  117. ¡Hola, fanáticos del entretenimiento !
    Casinos online fuera de EspaГ±a con licencias vГЎlidas – п»їhttps://casinosonlinefueradeespanol.xyz/ п»їcasino fuera de espaГ±a
    ¡Que disfrutes de asombrosas momentos irrepetibles !

  118. ¡Saludos, seguidores del desafío !
    Casino online extranjero con retiros al instante – п»їhttps://casinoextranjerosdeespana.es/ casino online extranjero
    ¡Que experimentes maravillosas premios excepcionales !

  119. Hello trailblazers of refreshing atmospheres !
    Best Air Filter for Cigarette Smoke – Updated Rankings – https://bestairpurifierforcigarettesmoke.guru/# best air purifier for smoke large rooms
    May you experience remarkable wholesome breezes !

  120. ¡Hola, participantes del desafío !
    Casinos sin licencia espaГ±ola con opciones VIP – http://casinosinlicenciaespana.xyz/# casinos online sin licencia
    ¡Que vivas increíbles recompensas asombrosas !

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Archived Posts

Featured Research

Certificate of Need repeal heads to governor’s desk 

May 5, 2023 South Carolina Policy Council
Research

Statehouse Update May 2-4

May 2, 2023 South Carolina Policy Council
Research

Certificate of Need repeal passes major legislative hurdle

April 28, 2023 South Carolina Policy Council
Featured Legislation Research

An interest rate cap would harm SC consumers, reduce options

April 28, 2023 South Carolina Policy Council