Pa Press Club luncheon Monday February 23, 2015 with guest Erik Arneson.

Arneson was appointed executive director of the Office of Open Records by Governor Tom Corbett and later terminated by Governor Tom Wolf.

Part 1. Opening remarks.

Part 2. Questions from the audience.

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From our archives.

Attorney's for Erik Arneson and the Senate Majority Caucus have filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court against Governor Thomas Wolf, DCED, and the Office Of Open Records.

Erik Arneson, Matthew Haverstick, and Joel Frank - 2pm Commonwealth Court.

The office needs to be independent.

Read the filings.

Application For Special And Preliminary Injunction.

Brief In Support Of Application For Special And Preliminary Injunction.

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Governor Wolf issues statement on lawsuit.

As released by the Governor's Press Office.

“Elected leaders should be open, transparent, and accountable to the people of Pennsylvania. The actions taken by my predecessor in the eleventh hour, when he named Erik Arneson, a longtime Republican staffer, as executive director of the Office of Open Records, were anything but open and transparent.

“With one of his first acts, Mr. Arneson demoted a qualified chief counsel in favor of a Corbett staffer.

“By removing Mr. Arneson, I am standing up against an effort to destroy the integrity of the Office of Open Records and turn it into a political operation. These attempts to change the office, which exists to protect the public’s right to know, are the exact reasons people distrust their state government. When given the choice between protecting the public and playing politics, I will stand with the people of Pennsylvania.

“As a public servant I strive to promote democracy and change the culture in Harrisburg. I will continue to fight for the integrity of the Office of Open Records. Today’s lawsuit does nothing to alter my conviction.”

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Archive video of former director of the Office of Open Records Terry Mutchler January 9, 2015.

I have the highest respect for Erik Arneson.

Photo/Natalie Cake file.