how about just access to open government data? (Score 2)

Open data format is an interesting concept, but unfortunately doesn't not address another critical aspect of government data and freedom of information at the state and local levels.

Oregon has been cited for introducing open source legislation: but unfortunately is also one of the few states that have allowed state and local government entitites to charge development fees and a marginal copying fees for certain types of information (Oregon Revised Statues, section 190).

The federal government passed the 1995 Freedom of Digital Information, but not many states have followed similarly with their state government data... thus some states are are charging for data that isn't or can't be produced in the private sector (aka lucrative government data monoplies).

Access to government data *period* should also be a considered in the open source/format debate. Don't just assume that government data is available, it isn't in instances where it should.