
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991                   TAG: 9104030505
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ACLU SUIT/ STEALTHY LAWMAKERS IN COURT

MEMBERS of the General Assembly's budget-making committees have long flouted the state's open-meeting laws by holding secret gatherings to decide how to spend Virginia taxpayers' money.

Despite this betrayal of their employers - the state's citizenry - and all the bad publicity they've generated for themselves and considerable public pressure, their attitude has been a scornful, You don't like it? So what? So sue us.

Finally, someone is taking them up on the challenge.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause of Virginia have charged the Senate Finance Committee and the three top-ranking members of the House Appropriations Committee with violating the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

The groups' message to the stealthy legislators: So see you in court.

by CNB