{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Taxpayer Empowerment","title":"Taxpayer Empowerment | Ep. 39: Government Transparency with Kelley Shannon","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1569,"description":"Transparency is essential to holding government accountable but are Texas taxpayers getting the access to public information they deserve?\nIn this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Kelley Shannon, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, to discuss the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the obstacles Texans can face when requesting government records, and reforms lawmakers could consider during the 2027 legislative session.\nThe Texas Public Information Act is built on the principle that government information is presumed open unless a legal exception applies. But delays, excessive cost estimates, misuse of the Attorney General ruling process, and broad interpretations of exemptions can make accessing public records more difficult.\nJose and Kelley discuss how these barriers affect everyday Texans seeking information about their cities, counties, school districts, and other governmental entities. They also examine concerns surrounding attorney-client privilege, litigation exemptions, government information held by outside vendors, and taxpayer-funded partnerships with private or quasi-governmental organizations.\nThe conversation also looks ahead to potential Texas government transparency reforms in the 90th Texas Legislature, including reducing delays, reviewing commonly abused exemptions, strengthening enforcement of the Public Information Act, improving recovery of attorney’s fees for successful requestors, and encouraging governments to proactively publish frequently requested records online.\nIn this episode:\n• How the Texas Public Information Act works\n• Why open records are a taxpayer issue\n• Delays and excessive costs for public records requests\n• The role of the Texas Attorney General in open-records disputes\n• Attorney-client privilege and litigation exemptions\n• Transparency involving government contractors and outside organizations\n• Proactive disclosure of frequently requested government...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/F2LfVM7SGOkGQhEqUmFESXLhHHn1gd3VISGVrLC79Jo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83ZTU2/ZDgyNjE0ZjUxNWY0/ZjY2MzQ0ZTM1ODBh/OWJlNC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}