J.B. Van Hollen PHOTO: WRN
The attorney general weighs in on recall petition privacy. J.B. Van Hollen says all state agencies need to balance the responsibility for open government with that of safeguarding citizens. The Government Accountability Board delayed plans to put the signatures on its Web site. “There is a balancing test under the law that can be imposed by the agency that possesses the records,” says Van Hollen. “If they were to determine that they believe the balancing test of somebody’s, not necessarily personal privacy, but public safety, required the redaction of certain information, that’s certainly something that they can and should take into consideration.”
AUDIO: Van Hollen press conference (15:20)
Some recall petition signers asked that their names not to be included due to privacy concerns. And the ACLU requested domestic violence victims who signed the petitions have their names kept off as well. “We have to specifically in this case, look at the public records laws,” says Van Hiollen. “Obviously when it comes to weighing whether to release certain information or not, and balancing that, the Government Accountability Board can to into consideration what public policy has been in similar circumstances.”