Shanmuggasundaram Muck Rock.1.14.19

0.06 MB·English

by  Office Of Rep. Mark Baker

Mississippi House of Representatives

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Investigate Obices

REPRESENTATIVE MARK BAKER
Dintrist 24

Ranken Co

January 14, 2019

‘Me, Swathi Shummugistiedaean via email

30-29793551 Grequests mmclock oven

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ARE: Pubic Recores Regees!

[Dear Mz, Shanmmugasnadacscn

{ have sostived your publiczcconds ue! clared Jnakacy 1, 2079, in which you requast al

‘roils and other reeards of comespendencs fmcluding meeting res, Faxes lens sul
ameanos} son] tp 7 received loan ane, my staff and a list oF organizacoas naczed in your leet.

‘Lhe voquestod infiosmalion s noLsuject tu the Hublie Reeords Act of 1982, aed is peoteted ‘tom,
lisclosur,

“The Tnctoas that dereemine whether any records ure subject w the Public Records Aci are whether
lhe reeds ure "public rezetd" af a "public body", Ry definition under the Public Recardl Aut
an appointed or elovted public officiel or sa meliviual semployes ya publ huaty nal le be
cconsttiod asa "public holy”. See, MCA Sectian 25-61-3(a}. Thus, any emails and otber rcconds
WFeamrespeindenice helween mgscl® ny staff und ethers that arene saistained or kepl om Bohall
of hs Fenuae of Representat veg are not subject to the Public Recurds A. Pantone ars, MCA
Sootion 25-61-17, provides thal "|nfolling in tis ebaptar shal: be consted as denying ths
Legislature the sig. fo deterring the cules ofits own procoestings aad to regutate publis accest
lite records." As of the response dale this eller, the Louse uf Represematives hss rl

adopeed « paliey to kee ur iaintain any eztton or electronic comrespunsdenee of iividua,
members of the House af Repmesentatives

[Now Capitol -Post Office Rox If
ice: 601.989.3988 - Enna:

Jackson, MS 99215-1015,
paleristoo%e 08.306
th: Shanmnugesupdaeom 515835; yquests mustoskcom,
Muekraek.com
Tomy 1, 2019

Page 2

‘Moreaver, the doutrng of lepislenive smmunily has been teoognized in conse la for bunds
‘af yoats with origins im Fagland, and also boon to applied to state legislaturs by the United States
Supreme Court in Yemey, Brandhove, 341 US. 367 (1951). To protoer the other 124 Tons
imgmhers with whom Lscive Seem an expeelatio that such infometion should be made public
to protest euch cansituent and every viliven of the Sule nf Méssisaippi whe should

upon tose
be able te expect x private eominunication with his er ner legislator about poliey amd ws pro
Ge necessary eonfideadality of commumieatinns wiLs ony employees ar any other individuals

regarding “he development of legislative polizy,T cannot diselos: te infrmation that you have,

equemed, Lepishitive imunity is analogoss 1th repslers’ privilege which serves lo pret
persis who enrtespond sett: tae mein. Ta areas from the practice of esistcive immuniy,
similar to a reporier disclosing confident’ source, would resuit ina chilfing effect on the

legislaries process.

“Thuik yeu in advance for undendamding the useesity for prwlence iu unis watt fer the Jong-
tive Insite a our prt stale

‘em best intevets the legis

Sinesrly,