After three years of asking, Tribune polygamy reporter Brooke Adams finally gained access to a meeting of the Safety Net Committee.

This committee is established to "open communication [and] break down barriers" between people living in plural marriages, law enforcement and other concerned parties, according to the Website of the Utah attorney general. That office administers the committee.

Adams writes on her blog:

...I was consistently and firmly told that committee members did not want the media to attend.

I had a problem with that. For one thing, the committee was previously funded by a federal grant: Your tax dollars.

Presumably, the committee will follow other provisions of Utah's open meeting laws, including publishing agendas in advance.

By the way, can you guess what publication Adams used to make her argument to the attorney general's office? Yep, the handbook on open meetings and open records... published by the attorney general's office. A PDF of that handbook is available by clicking here.

— NC

Labels: Open and Public Meetings Act, Polygamy