Vermont House ‘Rejects "Deliberative Process" Argument

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The Vermont House voted 82-49 in support of a bill that denies the use of “deliberative process” as a basis for withholding executive branch records from the public. The governor’s office had opposed the legislation, arguing that there is a need to keep inter-office deliberations private so that matters will be candidly discussed. But Rep. Tony Klein, one of the bill’s sponsors, said, “Our system of government is based on openness and accountability.” (2/18/06)