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 2012 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