re: LA HB 461 - (Government proposal to hide records from public)

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2) The bill goes too far to fill a gap that absolutely needs to be filled. I’ve worked on municipal economic development projects, and they are HARD to work on. Companies have a disincentive to share information about their business, including its financials or operating documents, because they are immediately public (even if no deal happens). It hamstrings all sides. But I think once a deal is signed, the records should be public except for any confidential business information. Allow the parties room to negotiate, but make them public at the end.

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If public money is being used (either direct grants, tax credits, or forgiveness / release from paying certain taxes), then it needs to be public record.

I understand the companies may not want certain info released, and I also beleive there are probably plenty of company records that are not germain to the deal.

But if a company wants to take public money, then it should be open.

If a company doesn't want to have those conversions be public, then don't take public money.