Last week's introduction of Senate Bill 355 in North Carolina offers one of the most important transparency bills in the state's recent history, write Paul Mauney and Bill Moss in an editorial published Sunday.
Mauney is regional president of Adams Publishing Group’s news publications in North Carolina and Bill Moss is publisher and editor of Hendersonville Lightning and hendersonvillelightning.com, a weekly newspaper and website serving Western North Carolina.
"By providing meaningful public access to personnel records of state and local government employees," they wrote, "the bill would allow North Carolinians to hold elected leaders accountable for the first time when it comes to hiring, firing and other personnel action."
Primary sponsors of the Government Transparency Act of 2021 are Sens. Norman Sanderson (R-Carteret, Craven, Pamlico); Bill Rabon (R-Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender); and Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth).
Mauney and Moss note in the editorial that this legislation is strongly supported by the North Carolina Press Association. Mauney curently serves as NCPA president and Moss is chair of NCPA's Legislative Committee.
