Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has left no doubt about it. Government officials cannot use technology to skirt the Texas Open Meetings Law.

It is good news for good government advocates.

The Austin City Council and other local governments have used their cell phones and other devices to communicate, thinking they could circumvent the Open Meetings Act. Not so!

We might recall the attempt by the cities of Alpine, Big Lake and Rockport (as well as elected officials in several other cities) in what the Austin American-Statesman called a "nonsensical expenditure of public money on a nonsensical lawsuit." (http://www.statesman.com/opinion/texas-open-meetings-act-must-be-defende...).

That resulted in the taxpayer-funded Texas Municipal League to join and champion the effort to neuter the Texas Open Meetings Act.

In court, that failed and good government again prevailed. (http://www.americansforprosperity.org/032911-taxpayers-–-1-texas-municipal-league-–-0)

And the TML launched attacks on Abbott and the Legislature:
http://www.tml.org/leg_updates/legis_update012811b_open_meetings.asp

Last legislative session, TX Sen. Jeff Wentworth carried legislation which increased the cost to citizens who request public information and the Texas Municipal League tried to gut the open meetings act.

We must protect the intent of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) and the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). The threats will continue. We need leadership to continue to protect citizen rights and keep the light of public scrutiny on government. Sunshine IS the best disinfectant.

Thank you, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott!

Here is the Austin American-Statesman's excellent editorial: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/2032666.html

• Peggy Venable