In a recent 5-2 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Taft is entitled to cite executive privilege in concealing the inner workings of his office from the public. Unheard of in Ohio's 203-year history, the ruling bestows upon Taft and future governors a privilege typically associated with the U.S. president. This decision marks a damaging step backward for Ohio's open records policies by placing the governor's desire for secrecy above the public's right to know. It could also provide a smokescreen to possible corruption in Ohio government, obscuring any hope for reform. The state's high court made a mistake in this ruling and ultimately committed an injustice against all Ohioans.
Although not exclusive to the president, the notion of executive privilege is most associated with that office, dating back to the corruption-plagued Nixon administration. The modern-day parallels are significant. When Democratic state Sen. Marc Dann asked to see weekly reports to Taft from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the governor's office refused. This sparked the ruling in question, one handed down by five Republican justices. An effort to investigate possible corruption involving bureau investments has resulted in just the opposite of what was needed '-
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