In the late winter of 1974, the proposed “Sunshine Law” was referred to as “dastardly,” “vague,” “unconstitutional” and several other words you couldn’t print in a family newspaper.
Today, if you could get elected officials away from us prying media types, many probably would have the same comments and complaints.
Many public officials would be just as happy if the meat of their business could be done behind closed doors, over coffee at Starbucks or through a conference call.
But 50 years ago this week, the bill sponsored by state Rep. John Bragg, D-Murfreesboro, wound its way through the Democrat-dominated legislature amid the milieu of a Watergate coverup scandal playing out in newspapers and on television.