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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > April > 06
Monday, April 6, 2009
Updated with Strickland response- Rep. Morgan takes public records case against Strickland to Supreme Court
Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, today, April 6, took his public records case against Gov. Ted Strickland to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Morgan previously had filed two public records requests with Strickland’s office seeking the documents that are the basis of Strickland’s “evidence-based model” for school reform and school funding. Strickland so far has not communicated directly with his office, Morgan said.
Morgan has petitioned the court to require the Strickland administration to comply with Ohio’s public records laws by turning over the evidence used to create the governor’s education plan.
The lawsuit also requests statutory damages and attorney fees and costs. Morgan said he hopes for a speedy response.
“We need to if were going to make an informed decision on this budget,” Morgan said in a telephone interview.
Amanda Wurst, Strickland’s spokeswoman, said Morgan’s request was so broad that it could take “months to compile the responsive documents.”
While the governor is not required to comply with such overly broad requests, Strickland’s office is identifying the materials that could be responsive, Wurst said.
She said every legislator had access to a 400-source bibliography used for Strickland’s plan and many of the reports are available on line.
Also, Strickland held 17 public regional forums over the past year on his plan and information on them is available at conversationoneducation.org, said Wurst.http://www.ohiochannel.org/multimedia/programs/program.cfm?programid=107678&sitedisplay_mode=2
Strickland’s plan calls for a longer school year, a longer school day, all-day kindergarten and other requirements. Critics have questioned whether it provides enough money, particularly for low-wealth districts.
School funding and the school reform plan are part of the proposed two-year budget now under consideration by the House.
Morgan is ranking member of the House Finance Committee’s Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee.
