New laws bring openness to commercial taxes, malpractice

Article Abstract:

The legislature in Massachusetts and the voters in the District of Columbia have both enacted laws that will promote citizen access to information. An initiative in D.C. was enacted that will require the Board of Real Property Assessment and Appeals to disclose financial records of commercial real estate and will allow the public to appeal any Board ruling. In Massachusetts, a hotline has been developed to provide consumers with information on doctors, including malpractice suits and settlements and disciplinary actions taken.

Physicians, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Malpractice, Medical malpractice, Real property tax, Real property taxes

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President's defense fund trustees not 'advisory committee': trust renders no advice on government policy, not subject to openness rules

Article Abstract:

The US Court of Appeals in Washington DC ruled in Feb 1996 that trustees of a private legal defense fund for President Bill Clinton and his wife are not an advisory committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Public interest groups Judicial Watch and the National Legal and Policy Center filed suit in 1994 against the Presidential Legal Expense Trust seeking records on its formation. The ruling explicitly did not address related ethical, legal, and public policy questions such a trust raises.

Finance, Presidents, Presidents (Government), Clinton, Hillary Rodham

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Deliberations in impeachment trial twice closed to public

Article Abstract:

The Senate voted twice in January 1999 to close President Clinton's impeachment trial to the public. Deliberations on two motions, one to dismiss the charges and the other to permit House managers to call witnesses, were accordingly held in secret. Senators advocating secrecy believed it would allow senators to speak more candidly, while those opposing it believed it incompatible with representative government.

United States, Management, Political aspects, Impeachments, Impeachment, Free press and fair trial, Pretrial publicity, Right to fair and impartial trial

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