There are two new state Senate bills that were introduced last week—Senate bill 6306 and Assembly bill 9187—that we believe would dramatically reduce the public’s right to know and their ability to make intelligent decisions on issues as they go through the Democratic process.

The companion bills seek to change Section 214 of New York County Law by moving the publication of concurrent resolutions of the County legislatures to the web, and to print only a synopsis of the resolution in newspapers. The newspaper ad would then direct interested citizens to the government—controlled web site for additional details. The proposed bill would change the existing law for all local and municipal notices. Both bills have been referred to the Committee on Government Operations in both houses.

This proposed bill would be a harmful setback for citizens’ information, and if passed it would reduce the "checks and balances" the press had provided throughout our history.

Let’s be totally honest here. Newspapers such as ours are paid a line rate, set by the state, for the legal ads published in their papers. So, to some extent we have a financial interest in this measure, which could potentially reduce annual revenue.

But let’s also be clear. Our interests also lie with our readers and their right to know and their ability to take part in the Democratic process. We work every week to inform and provide that ability.

Lawmakers recognized the importance of an informed citizenry when establishing the law now in place, and that has worked well for generations.

Legislative bodies throughout the state submit their legal notices to area newspapers because they are required to by state law to do so.

Now, for the first time, this law, if enacted, would require that New York’s citizens rely on a government-controlled web site, where documents, including pending bills and legislation can be altered or edited any time. If a person was looking at a government—controlled web site, how would they know if they were looking at the original version, a slightly edited second version or even a third changed version. There would be no definitive proposal upon which citizens could rely to make decisions about the legislation.

Unfortunately, today’s headlines and our history are replete with stories about political corruption and abuses, and this change would not only raise the potential for more mischief but also reduce the level of public trust in government and government officials that is already at an all-time low. It would eliminate the objective protections newspapers provide.

If this proposal is being made under the guise of saving taxpayer money, it is penny-pinching at its worst. Legal notice publication rates have not increased since September 1990 and the amount of money spent to publish legal notices is a minuscule portion of any municipal budget.

We do see a tremendous public cost in having citizens get less information and fewer assurances that the information is up-to-date, accurate and unencumbered. If you agree, contact your state legislator and voice your disapproval.