The argument rages between the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Government of Guam relative to transparency. During the week set aside to celebrate Guam's Open Government Law, this discussion has hit a fever pitch. I am not sure how it will end, but I can say with authority that the talk should never have happened.
Now that sounds a bit strange from a blogger accused of not being transparent during the majority of his time in public service. I will say that there was a local politician who put these types of talks into perspective for me early in my career in government.
This long time Guam Senator and Senior Staffer to a former Governor once told me that a Special Assistant to the Governor of Guam has as much influence as a sitting Senator in the Guam Legislature. While the latter is elected by the people, the Governor of Guam appoints Assistants to be able to carry out his or her duties as mandated by the Organic Act of Guam. Thus there is a strong notion that both carry similar weight in the execution of duties of their respective branches of government. I won't argue that point since I have been witness or have been directed to take numerous hard line stances in defense of the public policy direction of the office I represented.
The tone has been adversarial-as is expected. But more troublesome, to me, the tone from the Executive Branch has been downright rude. Yes, in all fairness, lawmakers should be allowed to describe their view of how government should be run since they hold the power of the purse. But an accusatory themed outburst on social media recently by a Guam Senator is far from an appropriate venue to discuss important matters. Why not call an oversight hearing? Why not subpoena members of the Administration to bring forward evidence of the wrongdoing or lack of professional commitment to the duties as discharged by law? In this case, two wrongs clearly are not making a right here.
So the discussion on transparency has led to the adoption of a Legislative Freedom of Information Council. Compliance with the Freedom of Information Act is its charge. 12 members of our community will make up this group including the Attorney General, members of the three branches of government, the media and members of the general public. In 30 days this group will meet for the first time and will begin the work to police the government of Guam agencies who have failed to comply with this important law enacted about 15 years ago. A free and open government to serve the people of Guam is the direction with this Council. The Council's actions will certainly stir up much controversy in an election cycle that at present has no Democrat to run against the incumbent Republican Governor and two political party organizations seeking their identity against a backdrop of policies that do not accurately reflect the platforms of their national counterparts.
I ask each of you to watch this process closely and caution you to not place high expectations for substantive outcomes during this election year. While it might be entertaining at first blush, there are many more issues that face our island that require our immediate attention-jobs, economic diversity and energy independence. That is better talk for this community with a required action to make our island a better place to live.