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Pennsylvanians should be concerned and disappointed. To put it bluntly -- Pennsylvanians should be angry.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Spotlight PA's Katie Meyer reported in Monday's edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, has decided not to release his daily calendar to the public, reversing the standing policy under Gov. Tom Wolf.
"Who has access? Who has the governor's ear? How often is the governor meeting with his staff in order to discuss issues one, two and three," political activist Allan Blutstein asked the Spotlight PA reporter to illustrate why these types of calendars are an important source of information for the constituents whose taxes pay the governor's salary.
This is unfortunately not a new trend but part of pattern of resistance to transparency by the Shapiro Administration. As Meyer noted, Shapiro's transition team were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements and also didn't release the names of donors to inaugural celebrations. The governor also convened an advisory panel on climate change that is conducting its meetings secretly and free from public scrutiny -- a move we criticized in an April editorial as arrogant and unacceptable.
As we said then, the taxpaying public of Pennsylvania should expect a state government that is responsive to its needs, concerns and criticisms. Not a state government that arrogantly hides from those concerns and criticisms.
We are unhappy that the situation seems to be getting worse and the Shapiro Administration seems to be moving toward less transparency and accountability. As the voters and taxpayers to whom they should be transparent and accountable, you should be unhappy too.