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ment, it puts the legislature in the un-
tenable position of having to act positively
by an affirmative act to close the door and
prevent a proceeding from being open to
the public. I think that is a burden which
should not be cast upon the legislature or
upon any governing body of a unit of local
government.
I think the act of the legislature should
be an affirmative one to open to the public
what it feels should be open. I think Dele-
gate Weidemeyer was on the right track
in suggesting that that be the way the
amendment be cast. Since it is not, I urge
you to reject the amendment.
THE PRESIDENT: Any other delegates
desire to speak?
Are you ready for the question?
(Call for the question.)
The Clerk will ring the quorum bell.
The question arises on the adoption of
Amendment No. 6 to Committee Recom-
mendation R&P-1 and R&P-2 as amended
by Report S&D-9. A vote Aye is a vote in
favor of Amendment No. 6. A vote No is a
vote against.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted?
Does any delegate desire to change his
vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
There being 57 votes in the affirmative
and 58 in the negative, the motion is lost
and the amendment is rejected.
Delegate Willoner, do you desire to offer
your Amendment U?
DELEGATE WILLONER: Yes, Mr.
Chairman.
THE PRESIDENT: Pages please dis-
tribute Amendment U.
This will be Amendment No. 7.
The Clerk will read the amendment.
READING CLERK: Amendment No. 7
as amended by Report No. S&D-9 to Com-
mittee Recommendation No. R&P-1 and
R&P-2 on second reading by Delegate
Willoner: On page 1 following line 21 add
this new section :
"Section 1......... Freedom of Information
Freedom of information shall not be
abridged."
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(Whereupon, the motion was duly sec-
onded.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Chair recog-
nizes Delegate Willoner to speak to the
motion.
DELEGATE WILLONER: This ap-
proach has been preferred by many dele-
gates. I preferred the direct approach pro-
posed by the founding fathers who said,
"Freedom of speech and the press shall not
be abridged."
However, this is freedom of informa-
tion —
DELEGATE BAMBERGER: I think at
least in this part of .the room we have
Amendment Q.
THE PRESIDENT: Amendment U for
"uncle."
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: I hope
Amendment Q will not be thrown away
because Delegate Willoner and Delegate
Kiefer are together, and I think it should
be preserved for posterity.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Willoner.
DELEGATE WILLONER: Amendment
U. This is the approach taken by our found-
ing fathers at Philadelphia. It recognizes
the principle and leaves to the courts the
development of the principle.
As we all know, freedom of press and
freedom of speech are not absolute rights.
Neither is freedom of information. We are
setting forth the principle that freedom of
information shall not be abridged.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Kiefer.
DELEGATE KIEFER: Mr. President and
ladies and gentlemen of the Convention,
Delegate Willoner and I are not as far
apart as you think, but I have to confess
I do not know what he knows by this "free-
dom of information shall not be abridged."
I am afraid it would open up all kinds of
questions.
I would be reluctant to favor or oppose
something I do not know anything more
about than that. I am not opposed to the
right to know as set out by Delegate Weide-
meyer, but I do not believe this does it. I
would suggest caution in adopting this lan-
guage which is strange to any constitution
as far as I know.
THE PRESIDENT: Any other dis-
cussion?
Delegate Adkins.
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