[ OUR OPINION ]
Political uniformity
should not lead to silence
THE ISSUE Governor Lingle has instructed top state officials to not comment on political issues without knowing her position.
NEWS reporters covering state government were delighted in the opening weeks of the Lingle administration with the candor and cooperation of state officials responding to their questions. Recently, however, the governor directed officials to avoid commenting to the media about policies unless they are aware of the administration's position. That's appropriate, but she also should make clear to her cabinet that the directive should not cause officials to become unresponsive.
The Cayetano administration was less than cooperative with journalists. In one department, for example, public affairs assistants were under orders not to comment or even provide information to reporters. They referred all media questions to the department's public affairs director, who invariably was unavailable and slow to respond. That bureaucratic arrogance seemed to disappear after Governor Lingle took office.
In an e-mail to agency heads and legislative coordinators, Lingle said: "Unless you know what the governor's position is, you should simply say that the department does not have a position on that issue or bill. If pressed for more, you should say that you will look into the matter." (We hope that the official will not only "say" that he or she will look into the matter but will actually do so and get back to the reporter.)
As a former journalist, Lingle is aware that reporters routinely seek both information and official positions on various issues from government officials. Dialogue between reporters and officials can become relaxed and off-the-record; the official will not be quoted or the information imparted may not be reported, usually because the official is not sure of its accuracy. The reporter can use those comments to verify information elsewhere.
A concern that has arisen from Lingle's directive is that her department heads and lobbyists will refuse to talk openly with reporters. Randall Roth, Lingle's senior policy adviser, points out the distinction between questions of fact and policy. Public officials' reluctance to talk about policy, he suggests, should not result in their refusal to provide information.
Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba contends that Lingle's directive "goes against the nature of open government" and indicates a policy of "micromanaging" from the governor's office. "If she's telling them, 'Don't take a position,' that's crippling the business of government."
Akiba's criticism is unwarranted, at least at this stage. In executive branches of government at all levels, cabinet members or their assistants are asked not to express positions contrary to those of their elected bosses. Still, policy disagreements within administrations about important issues -- such as evolution of the Iraq policy in the Bush White House -- sometimes surface, to the public's education.
The president, governor or mayor has the authority and good reason to combat the public impression that the administration is beset with intramural quarreling. That should not interfere with open government.
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