Bill would curb access to data

Getting voting records, school budgets, property assessments and other public records could get more difficult as lawmakers attempt to fend off websites and blogs that have used public data to target politicians.

Draft legislation to erect more speed bumps to access — such as requiring that requests come from Colorado citizens — would make the state's rules tougher than its neighbors'.

"Good government" advocates say the state shouldn't recast the Colorado Open Records Act because of a few perceived abuses.

But sponsor Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, counters that something must be done to curb "fishing expeditions" that harass lawmakers, drain staff resources and waste taxpayer dollars.

The Denver Post