TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Jeff Van Drew to increase government transparency and access in New Jersey by reducing copy fees for open public records requests and other government documents and requiring public reports and publications produced by the State be made available primarily on the Internet were approved by the Senate yesterday.
“Without the opportunity for public scrutiny, we’ve seen time and time again that government runs amok,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, and a long-time advocate for more openness in New Jersey government. “The lack of transparency and openness breeds corruption, waste, fraud and abuse of the taxpayer’s trust in their elected officials. These bills would make it a little easier for taxpayers to get information regarding their government and monitor public spending.”