Twenty-two other bills that would affect newspapers are being tracked by the Association, and MDDC lobbyist James J. Doyle, Jr. is testifying in both House and Senate committees on behalf of the organization. (See Legislative Checklist, page 3.)

The two MDDC bills were introduced by Del. John Arnick of Baltimore and would amend the state's Public Information Act. HB 1250 would clarify and ensure access to electronic records, and would limit fees that can be charged to the news media for retrieval of any public record to the cost of duplicating the record. The other bill, HB 934, would give the public access to retirement records of all public employees.

At a hearing before the House Commerce and Government Matters Committee March 12, HB 1250 was opposed by various government agencies, principally on the grounds of its cost to the state. The retirement bill was opposed by several public employees groups who do not want the information disclosed. Testifying for the Association were Carol Melamed of The Washington Post, chair of the Government Affairs Committee; Tom Marquardt of The Capital, co-chair of the FOI Subcommittee; and Jim Donahue, executive director.

At press time, the Association was attempting to break the two bills free by amending some provisions. In HB 1250, for example, the Association proposed amending the bill to incorporate some provisions from a somewhat similar bill introduced by Del. Joseph Getty, a member of the CGM Committee.

In HB 934, the Association proposed an amendment that would retain nondisclosure of public employees retirement benefits but would require disclosure of the total pension paid to elected and appointed officials.