LISTEN: TRUTH TO TELL – NOVEMBER 7 at 11AM – KFAI

GOVERNMENT SECRECY: YOUR GOVERNMENT IS HIDING FROM YOU

More and more public information is being withheld from the public. This is not about security, it’s about secrecy in state and local government – reports and activities kept behind an opaque veil of bureaucracy and political expediency. MnDOT’s engineering and administrative reports on the I-35W bridge are merely one example of public employees refusing to disclose information that could save lives, injuries, and money. Contracts and deals are struck without bidding or scrutiny and reports of dangerous infrastructure flaws are kept under wraps. Who will break open the political cocoon that is becoming our government and let the butterfly free to allow citizens to access and control their government once again? Join TTT’s Andy Driscoll and Lynnell Mickelsen for a discussion with Minnesota’s most prominent advocates for open government, access and a free press.

GUESTS:
JOHN R. FINNEGAN, retired Editorial Page Editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press

DON GEMBERLING, Attorney and Retired Administrator, Minnesota Data Privacy Office
OTHERS TBA

Grants awarded to Minnesota health care providers

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care today announced they have awarded grants totaling $3.5 million to help Minnesota providers develop electronic patient health records systems.

Minnesota law requires all Minnesota health care providers to use electronic patient health records by January 1, 2015. The Interconnected Electronic Health Record Grant Program is intended to help community collaboratives, community clinics, rural hospitals, small town physician clinics, nursing homes, and other small health care providers transition from paper records to electronic systems. These interoperable electronic health records will allow health care providers to exchange patient health information and deliver optimal care at all points of the health care system.

Learn more…

2007 Awards: Data, Information and Knowledge Management

The state of Minnesota recognizes that it is critical for taxpayers to trust in the overall honesty and integrity of public assistance programs for the state’s neediest citizens. Minnesota’s Family Investment Program (MFIP) is the state’s primary vehicle for helping low-income families with children make the transition from poverty into the workplace.

(Read more…)

Notice of Intent to Collect Stakeholder Input on Preservation of Electronic Documents

The following announcement was published in the Minnesota State Register September 24, 2007

Office of Enterprise Technology
Chief Information Officer
Notice of Intent to Collect Stakeholder Input on Preservation of Electronic Documents

Under the provisions of Minnesota Laws 2007, Chapter 148, Article 2, Section 77, the state’s Chief Information Officer, Gopal Khanna, is to undertake a study related to preservation of electronic documents. The pertinent legislative language reads:

The chief information officer of the state, in consultation with the state archivist and legislative reference librarian, shall study how electronic documents and the mechanisms and processes for accessing and reading electronic data can be created, maintained, exchanged, and preserved by the state in a manner that encourages appropriate government control, access, choice, and interoperability. The CIO must report back through the CIO to the Legislature on findings and recommendations by January 15, 2008.

The law further requires that: The chief information officer shall solicit comments from stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the legislative auditor, attorney general, librarians, state services for the blind, representatives of the Minnesota Historical Society, other historians, and the media. The chief information officer shall also solicit comments from members of the public. To allow all citizens and stakeholders equal opportunity to submit comments, a web-enabled process will allow for structured input by use of an electronic survey accessible from the Office of Enterprise Technology (OET) website:
http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=OETweb
or directly from the URL below.

The survey instrument will be available from Monday, September 24, 2007 until Monday, October 15,2007. At the conclusion of the survey period, all comments will be published on the OET website. To use the survey, go to http://survey.oet.state.mn.us/surveys/eds_stakeholder.htm

International Right to Know Day September 28, 2007

Though the annual recognition of International Right to Know Day is just five years old these have been five years of change – expansion and contraction of rights both within and among the nations of the world. The brief history of International Right to Know Day is recounted in a 2004 statement from the US Department of Justice FOIA Post.

An excellent map showing nation-by-nation steps is a bit dated, but useful.

The Canadians have mounted an energetic national campaign for 2007.

The political, human rights, technology and justice aspects of the universal Right to Know are tracked by numerous websites and rights organizations, including these and many more.
National Security Archives
International Right to Know

Check under the term “International Right to Know Day” to learn what a Big Deal this is around the world – Pakistan to the Cayman Islands to Moldova…..

Oct 18, 5:00 to 7:00 – Mark Ritchie, MN Sec of State

Mark Ritchie – Minnesota Secretary of State

Management of Information – Minnesota’s Renewable Asset

Thursday, October 18, 2007
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building
60 Empire Drive, St Paul, MN

Free and open

Sponsored by the
Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MnCOGI),
Telecommunications and Information Policy Roundtable (TIPR)
Minnesota Chapter, American Society of Information Science & Technology (ASIST)

Oct 9th, 5:00 to 7:00 – What is happening with St. Paul Broadband?

Please MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Tuesday, October 9, 2007
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Andrea Casselton – What’s Happening with St Paul Broadband?
Andrea is Director of Technology and Communication, City of St. Paul

Free and open

Rondo Community Outreach Library
NOTE CORRECT ADDESS — University and Dale in St. Paul

Sponsored by the Telecommunications and Information Policy Roundtable (TIPR)
http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/mn-tipr
Minnesota Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST)
http://www.asis.org/Chapters/mnasis/index.html
Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MnCOGI) https://mncogi.org/

18 August to 27 August

PPD=St Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch
Strib=Star Tribune

PPD, 8/4/07, p. 1C: “Now who do I sue” is a story about possible lawsuits stemming from bridge collapse. It also includes discussion about a City of Mpls. lawsuit settlement that should have been public but was not.

Strib, 8/7/07, p. A1: “Buzz begins over the future of state transportation Comm’r” includes note about MnDOT taking the names and phone numbers (public data) of bridge inspectors off its website because of “possibly threatening calls”. (Emphasis added.)

PPD, 8/8/07, p. 1A: “As bridge aged, its rating improved inexplicably” includes following statement: “What prompted the [rating] increase is unclear . . . . ” Illustrates need for complete government data.

Strib, 8/9/07, p. B1; ‘Popular North Side police official demoted” includes statement by Chief Dolan that reasons were between him and Edwards. Thought this was public data.

Strib, 8/12/07, p. A14: “Out east, E-Z pass gives drivers a fast lane to divorce court” illustrates the unintended consequence of surveillance type electronic “convenience”.

PPD, 8/12/07, p. 6A: “Chinese city tracks its citizens” using a system being bankrolled by banks in the United States. (1984 meets Wall Street.)

PPD, 8/15/07, p. 7B: “Teen charged in 15 year old’s death” includes statement from sheriff that he is withholding the identity of the victim because “data practices issues”. (Names of victims of crimes are almost always public.)

Strib, 8/15/07, p. B5: “Body found near Backus was of girl, 15” contains same statement as above.

Strib, 8/16/07, p. A11: “Rumsfeld quit day before election” does not explain that his resignation letter was obtained using the federal FOIA (Freedom of Information Act.)

PPD, 8/16/07, p. 8A: In Iraq update story about Rumsfeld resignation letter, “The word Iraq doesn’t appear. . . .” it does explain letter obtained under FOIA.

PPD, 8/17/07, p. 6A: “FBI director’s notes detail meeting a ‘feeble’ Ashcroft” is based on government data. Similar story in 8/17 Strib.

4 August to 17 August

PPD, 8/4/07, p. 1C: “Now who do I sue” is a story about possible lawsuits stemming from bridge collapse. It also includes discussion about a City of Mpls. lawsuit settlement that should have been public but was not.

Strib, 8/7/07, p. A1: “Buzz begins over the future of state transportation Comm’r” includes note about MnDOT taking the names and phone numbers (public data) of bridge inspectors off its website because of “possibly threatening calls”. (Emphasis added.)

PPD, 8/8/07, p. 1A: “As bridge aged, its rating improved inexplicably” includes following statement:
“What prompted the [rating] increase is unclear . . . . ” Illustrates need for complete government data.

Strib, 8/9/07, p. B1; ‘Popular North Side police official demoted” includes statement by Chief Dolan that reasons were between him and Edwards. Thought this was public data.

Strib, 8/12/07, p. A14: “Out east, E-Z pass gives drivers a fast lane to divorce court” illustrates the unintended consequence of surveillance type electronic “convenience”.

PPD, 8/12/07, p. 6A: “Chinese city tracks its citizens” using a system being bankrolled by banks in the United States. (1984 meets Wall Street.)

PPD, 8/15/07, p. 7B: “Teen charged in 15 year old’s death” includes statement from sheriff that he is withholding the identity of the victim because “data practices issues”. (Names of victims of crimes are almost always public.)

Strib, 8/15/07, p. B5: “Body found near Backus was of girl, 15” contains same statement as above.

Strib, 8/16/07, p. A11: “Rumsfeld quite day before election” does not explain that his resignation letter was obtained using the federal FOIA.

PPD, 8/16/07, p. 8A: In Iraq update story about Rumsfeld resignation letter, “The word Iraq doesn’t appear. . . .” does explain letter obtained under FOIA.

PPD, 8/17/07, p. 6A: “FBI director’s notes detail meeting a ‘feeble’ Ashcroft” is based on government data. Similar story in 8/17 Strib.

Citizen-centered Government – Event Sept 27, 2007

Thursday, September 27, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.:* The Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy will co-host a daylong conference on Thursday, September 27, to promote enhancing the role of citizens in a digital world.

“Citizen-centered Government Websites: The User Experience, E-Democracy, and Web 2.0” will feature speakers who will talk about how government websites and tools can further engage citizens in problem solving while improving their experience with a government agency. All are invited to attend. The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Find out more and register online.

The free event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the University’s Government Publications Library’s status as an official federal repository.