Ryan Randazzo Arizona Republic Published 12:10 AM EDT Mar 30, 2019 After years of refusing to acknowledge it, Arizona's biggest electric company on Friday affirmed that it donated millions to dark-money political groups in 2014 that helped elect two candidates who would set prices APS charges customers. Arizona Public Service and its parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., made the disclosure in a response to requests from regulators, including a subpoena from one elected to replace a commissioner APS helped into office. The disclosure showed that in 2014, Pinnacle West gave $12.9 million to 16 different political groups. The company said in its letter to the commission that $10.7 million went to groups that contributed to the Corporation Commission elections that year. The five Corporation Commissioners set rates and policies for APS and other regulated utilities. "APS is providing this information today voluntarily in the spirit of putting behind us any further … [Read more...] about Arizona Public Service admits spending millions on 2014 commission races
Arizona public records
Hobbs: Reagan staffers deleted public records
Michele Reagan at her 2015 inauguration (Photo by Evan Wyloge/Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting) Former Secretary of State Michele Reagan and top staffers deleted public records before leaving office in January, according to the new Secretary of State, Katie Hobbs. Hobbs, a Democrat, alerted state attorneys of the issue on Feb. 14. The discovery arose while Hobbs’ staff attempted to fulfill a public records request, she wrote in an email to Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson and Beau Roysden, chief of the Appeals and Constitutional Litigation Division. “It has come to our attention that emails were deleted by the previous secretary and several executive staff prior to leaving office,” Hobbs wrote on Feb. 14. “Not sure if this should go to criminal or civil division, but wanted to be sure to bring this to your attention. We are happy to provide further details that would be helpful.” It’s a Class 4 felony for officials to knowingly … [Read more...] about Hobbs: Reagan staffers deleted public records
Public records bill could hike costs, limit access in New Mexico
Associated Press Published 5:35 PM EST Jan 20, 2019 SANTA FE - Proposed legislation that would increase fees charged for public records in New Mexico and potentially limit access in certain cases is being called a “terrible anti-transparency” action by an open government advocacy group. Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, told the Roswell Daily Record that the main purpose of his proposed legislation is to allow public entities a way to recover the costs associated with fulfilling records requests. “Essentially this law would increase service charge fees, not to exceed the actual costs. But if there was an extensive use of technological resources or labor, then they could recover those costs,” said Woods, who represents District 7 that covers parts of Curry, Quay and Union counties. Existing state law allows public bodies to charge for the costs of copies or digitally transferring files, not for the costs of compiling the records. Related: Southern New … [Read more...] about Public records bill could hike costs, limit access in New Mexico
Public records bill could increase costs, limit access
Open government, news media groups oppose measure Proposed state legislation that would increase fees that could be charged for public records and could limit access in certain cases is being called a “terrible anti-transparency” action by an open government advocacy group. Sen. Pat Woods, of Broadview, said that the main purpose of his proposed legislation, Senate Bill 232, is to allow public entities a way to recover the costs associated with fulfilling records requests. “Essentially this law would increase service charge fees, not to exceed the actual costs. But if there was an extensive use of technological resources or labor, then they could recover those costs,” said Woods, a Republican representing District 7, which represents parts of Curry, Quay and Union counties. Existing state law, the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), allows public bodies to charge for the costs of copies or digitally transferring files, not for the costs … [Read more...] about Public records bill could increase costs, limit access
Want Public Records From the Arizona Governor’s Office? Be Prepared to Wait
But Ducey's office hasn't adopted the brisk speed and efficiency of the private sector when responding to requests for public documents, as required by Arizona law. Of the 76 public records requests processed by the governor's office in 2017, the average wait time was 3.6 months, according to a Phoenix New Times analysis of a log of records requests. The median wait time was 72 days. A handful of requests lingered in the governor's office for around a year before the records were finally turned over to the person who asked for them.Dan Barr, a local attorney who represents the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona, called the monthslong delays from Ducey's office for public records "ridiculous."“Clearly, they’re daring news organizations to sue them because public records law requires that public bodies respond promptly to a public records request," Barr said.Indeed, under Arizona law, the custodian of records at any public body must provide copies "promptly" … [Read more...] about Want Public Records From the Arizona Governor’s Office? Be Prepared to Wait