Oregon gets another F for transparency:

Public access to information: F 

This was Oregon’s worst score, largely because of a culture of confusion and misunderstanding stemming from the more than 400 exemptions in the public records law. As time has gone on, however, efforts to streamline the law have stalled. 

“It’s probably a situation that is very much still the same,” said Duane Bosworth, an attorney in Portland who specializes in media law. … “An employee handling something may think, ‘There’s no way I could give out the salary of my boss,’ ” he said. “But while they may feel that’s counterintuitive, that information is clearly public record.” 

Jeff Manning, spokesman for the Department of Justice, said he could find nothing to refute the “F” grade Oregon earned. “It’s certainly something I take seriously and it’s something the Attorney General takes seriously as well,” he said. 

Here at UO the public records situation has become impossible. UO uses delays and fees to prevent the release of even the most innocuous information. President Gottfredson is even using the public records law to charge UO student-journalists $240 just to see a redacted version of his official calendar. Months after the request, the calendar is still secret. UC-Irvine, where Gottfredson used to serve as Provost, charges nothing to fill public records requests.