FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Giancoli Hartman
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Fax: 717-783-6839
Email: ahartman@pahouse.net
State Rep. Babette Josephs
D-Philadelphia
www.babette.org
________________________________________

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Josephs, State Govt. Committee to review PennDOT withholding

of public information during open records hearing

HARRISBURG, Aug. 3 -- Anytime government agencies withhold information requested by the public, state Rep. Babette Josephs said she becomes concerned.

Recent news reports have revealed that the state Transportation Department denied a request by the Beaver County Times for information concerning the safety of Pennsylvania bridges. As chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, which oversees matters relating to the state's Right to Know law, Josephs wants to know why.

“In light of the recent events in Minnesota, PennDOT’s decision to withhold information is disturbing,” Josephs wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler expressing her concern about the denial.

“Where does PennDOT get the legal authority to decide that the public cannot handle certain types of information? We are not talking about privacy of persons nor are we at war or in any emergency or disaster situation. PennDOT should be serving the citizens.”

In her letter, Josephs extended a formal invitation to Biehler to attend her committee hearing next week to justify the department's reasons for withholding this information. She said the committee would be very interested in hearing his reasons, as well as how the department handled other similar requests it may have received.

According to the news report, PennDOT would not release the information because it ranks bridges numerically from zero to nine, and there was a "fear that the general public might not understand what those numbers mean" and "it might set off undue concern."

Josephs said Pennsylvanians should be able to make informed choices concerning their travel patterns with all relevant safety information included.

“There should be no withholding of publicly financed studies, reports, documents, rankings, etc. when it pertains to life and death,” she said.

The hearing, which was already scheduled to discuss open records legislation, is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 in Room G-50 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg.

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