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The public's right to know should not be sometimes honored and sometimes not.

But, that is the way some lawmakers would like to see it become.

Right now there are some in the Legislature and on the State Supreme Court who want to limit public access to online court records even though paper documents of the same records would be available in courthouses. The idea is that it is too easy to obtain access to the records if they are online.

But, shouldn't access to information that should be available to the public be easy?

As Attorney General James B. Van Hollen puts it, ".....We've got enough mistrust of government without hiding more things."

There are also situations developing where public boards hold meetings in places that are not easily accessible to the public. The meetings are being held where it is convenient for that particular board.

The question that begs to be asked is if the meeting is held in a place that is difficult for the public to get to, is that really an open meeting?

The ease of public access should be a very big part of public meetings.

In Madison, more and more bills are being crafted in party caucus meetings which makes the debate unavailable to the public. Too often, bills are brought to a vote before the public even hears about them.

There is a bill being introduced that will require caucuses to follow open meetings.

That bill deserves to be passed.

Attempts that undermine the public's right to know need to be circumvented. It is our right to know what our government is doing.