State lawmakers are now mulling an anti-terrorism package that would weaken the state’s right to know law, and establish severe penalties for terrorist acts, threats and hoaxes.
House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clegg told the criminal justice and public safety committee that the New Hampshire needs to do better job of protecting state citizens from terrorism. He says his proposal amounts to common sense in the wake of September 11th.
'Hopefully we can get unanimous support from the committee. To take care of what we feel are very important issues, definitely the result of September 11th.. . We’re just trying to make it easier for us to do our jobs.'
Clegg’s proposal would make it easier for public servants to do their jobs, by, among other things, allowing government officials wide latitude in barring citizen access to information about what the bill calls “matters of public safety.” According the Claire Ebel of the NH chapter of the American civil liberties union, that language is far too vague.
'The law is so broad it covers virtually every aspect of police department, the fire department, some aspects of public works and even recreation departments……The bill as it stands I think has no hope of passage…..'
Several lawmakers on the committee shared Ebel’s reservations. Portsmouth Democrat Jim Splaine says legislature shouldn’t act rashly.
'We ought not go overboard and give up our rights as citizens to know what’s going on in government…..Some serious way to ask about risk assessment. We have to have that right to know.'
Splaine also says as written the provision could be easily abused by officials looking to gain any sort of advantage….political or personal…..An opinion also shared by House democratic leader Peter Burling. Burling says he supports tightening the right to know, but says abuses by government officials would be inevitable.
'It is not a probability that that circumstances will arise. It is a certainty that it will arise because we are human beings and human beings fill all the governmental positions that we have.'
But according to representative Clegg, such malfeasance isn’t likely….. And even if it does occur, he says human nature and the press corps provides a ready solution.
'I don’t agree there’s a problem, and I don’t think it would happen. And I think the government takes care of itself based on news leakage.'
However when it comes to matters of terrorism and security leakage seems less likely. Acting direction of emergency management Don Bliss says when it comes to protecting safety mum will be the word.
'Regardless of whether or not there’s a right to know protection or not, I’m not going to reveal things I believe to be a detriment to the state of New Hampshire. The other day I was asked at a public meeting the other day by a reporter: 'What are the critical facilities in the state of New Hampshire?' I am not going to answer that question.'
The house criminal justice and pubic safety committee has scheduled a work session on the proposal for this afternoon……All parties say they are optimistic that a bill can be crafted to that balances security concerns with the pubic interest.
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