Public records: Letter contradicts Jindal administration statement
Last Modified: Monday, October 15, 2012 11:10 AM
BATON ROUGE (AP) — A letter obtained by The Advocate contradicts a Jindal administration statement that it doesn't tell state agencies how to answer public records requests.
The newspaper reported that the letter says Gov. Bobby Jindal's top lawyer suggested using the "deliberative process privilege" to withhold documents about budget cuts and privatization at public hospitals.
The letter from W. Shelby McKenzie says Executive Counsel Liz Murrill had reviewed requested records and suggested that LSU use that privilege for keeping some private.
Asked last week if anyone working for the governor had advised any agency to invoke "deliberative process" to keep documents hidden, Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin answered, "That's not true."
Sunday, he said he had thought The Associated Press was asking only about LSU, and that agencies have the final say.
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