Initiative 42 campaign: Reeves, Gunn violating records law

The campaign for the citizen-sponsored education funding Initiative 42 says Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn are refusing to release emails in accordance with the state's public records law.

On Aug. 11, The 42 For Better Schools Campaign requested copies of any and all emails mentioning Initiative 42 or Initiative 42-A, the legislative alternative to Initiative 42. The campaign requested the communication to or between staff members and employees of the Office of the Speaker of the House and Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Both Reeves and Gunn, who are opponents of Initiative 42, referred the records request to the appropriate committees in the House and Senate.

Both Reeves' and Gunn's responses cited the section of the public records law that gives the legislature the authority to regulate public access to its records.

But the 42 campaign's Communications Director Patsy Brumfield said although Lt. Gov. Reeves serves as president of the Senate, he is not a member of the legislature.

Lt. Gov. Reeves' spokeswoman Laura Hipp said the request was handled according to Senate rules.

"The request was forwarded to the Secretary of the Senate on behalf of the Senate Rules Committee in accordance with longstanding Senate policy," Hipp said in an emailed statement. "We are confident the Senate Rules Committee has complied with the law."

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Giles Ward, R-Louisville, sent the committee's response late Monday afternoon.

"The only records subject to release under this (Senate) policy are expense reimbursement records and NO OTHER RECORDS ARE SUBJECT TO RELEASE," the letter from Ward said. "This response has been approved by the Senate Rules Committee and prepared by committee counsel and I hope this is responsive to your request."

According to the policy, the only Senate records subjected to the public records act are expense records, including telephone, travel and reimbursement expenses.

Speaker Gunn responded to the request on Monday afternoon, citing the same part of the public records law.

" ... pursuant to House Rules, the House Management Committee is charged with the authority to regulate policy on such matters. Thus, your requests for information have been referred to the House Management Committee," the letter from Gunn to Michael Rejebian stated. Rejebian filed the request on behalf of the 42 For Better Schools campaign.

Initiative 42 calls for a constitutional amendment requiring that the state fund a system of free public schools and grants the chancery court the ability to enforce the requirement.

The alternative to Initiative 42 also calls for the same amendment, but does not include any judicial oversight.

Both will appear on the ballot in November.

"The refusal to release this information raises even more questions about their relationship with privately funded, special interest lobbyists who are fighting against Initiative 42," Rejebian said of the responses from Reeves and Gunn.

Contact Kate Royals at (601) 360-4619 or kroyals@gannett.com. Follow @KRRoyals on Twitter.