JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SUNSHINE WEEK

WHEREAS,  the basic principles of freedom of speech and freedom of the press guaranteed in the United States Constitution are fundamental to our national heritage; and

WHEREAS,  the American Society of Newspaper Editors has initiated Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know as a way of illustrating the importance of open government; and

WHEREAS,  Sunshine Week 2007 participation by nonjournalism groups is growing, with national and local forums already planned by civic groups, libraries and open government and freedom of information groups, as well as by student media; and

WHEREAS,  Sunshine Week was established to spark a discussion about the importance of open government and public access to government documents and meetings; and

WHEREAS,  these issues are important in the State of Maine, where public access issues emerge all the time; now, therefore, be it

That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature now assembled in First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to recognize Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know during the week of March 11-17, 2007 and confirm the basic principles of an open and accessible government in a free society, and we urge all citizens to join in this observance.