A bright light

As the nationwide observance of Sunshine Week draws to a close, it's important to reflect on who benefits from so-called sunshine laws that exist, in one form or another, in every state.

Sunshine laws get their name from the bright light they attempt to shine on the inner workings of government. These laws make sure meetings are open to the public. And they make sure records and other government information are available to the public.

News-media organizations rely on sunshine laws to obtain access to government deliberations and documents. But sunshine laws are for the public, not just the news media. The public has a right to attend government meetings and get government documents.

In Missouri and Illinois, as in most states, the public's access to meetings and records is facilitated by staff members of the respective attorney general offices. Anyone who believes he or she has been denied access to meetings or records can contact the attorney general in his or her state and find someone who is willing to be an advocate.

This is an important part of sunshine laws, one that is used often in Missouri and Illinois. Attorneys general in both states are to be commended for the efforts they make on behalf of ordinary citizens to shine a bright light on government.