In search of Capitol answers

This is a story about bureaucracy and the stonewalling that often occurs when lowly reporters like myself are trying to inform the public about their state government.

In the greater scheme of things, it’s not a big deal – there’s no corruption or misappropriation or other breaking of the public trust. But it’s indicative of the paranoia and thin-skinned approach some in state government adopt at times over silly things.

It began on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when the administration and the folks who oversee the Statehouse issued notice of the coming installation of metal detectors at the doors to Ohio’s Capitol building.

On Monday, when I arrived for work, the metal detectors were in full use, with the good men and women of the State Highway Patrol ably and efficiently checking visitors.

Statehouse reporters followed suit quickly, looking for answers to basic questions about the changes.

Why now? How much did the metal detectors cost? What other security changes had been instituted to ensure the safety of lawmakers, lobbyists, state employees and other visitors? And on and on.

Nothing really controversial here, just the facts so our readers could understand how their tax dollars are being used and what to expect if they want to see their government in action.

On Tuesday, media outlets had the story, complete with quotes from the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the panel that handles Statehouse administration.

That’s where I was directed to ask my questions, which I posed Monday, like everybody else.

While others were given answers this week, I was not. Not on Monday. Or Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Not even for most of the day Thursday.

PERSISTENT EFFORTS

And not for a lack of trying. Each morning, I dutifully resubmitted my questions to CSRAB, and the board dutifully ignored me.

It wasn’t until late Thursday afternoon when William Carleton, CSRAB’s executive director, offered the following explanation, via email: “I apologize for any information about security you need to contact the Department of Public Safety or the Ohio Highway Patrol.”

I asked for clarification on that position. I also asked the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus about the non-answers, given that Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, is the current CSRAB chairman.

The response, from caucus spokesman John Fortney: “We are deferring all questions about security to the Department of Public Safety and the highway patrol.”

And that was that.

On Monday, CSRAB was talking to some. It wasn’t until Thursday that the board gave me its “no comment.”

On the one hand, I understand how cautious law enforcement needs to be about security measures. I also understand why such sensitive information wouldn’t be shared with the news media.

On the other hand, I didn’t ask for any sensitive details. I asked about the cost of metal detectors and what items could be brought into the Statehouse and how school kids would be treated when they visited for tours.

There’s no good reason for CSRAB to provide answers to questions to some media and then stonewall others.

It was a dumb decision without justification.

Again, it’s not that big a deal in the greater scheme of things – though it prompts lowly reporters like me to wonder what other things they’re hiding.

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.