Why does your right to know matter?

In our previous column, we introduced the right to know and the Montana Transparency Project, our nonprofit organization that champions, amplifies and educates Montanans about this  crucial right. Today, let’s delve deeper into the special nature of the right to know as enshrined  in the Montana Constitution.

We have a special right to know in Montana that deserves all Montanans’ special attention. We  should use this important liberty to appreciate how lucky we are here, and to bring to life the participatory spirit that this right and other rights in our unique state constitution embody.  

As Montanans, we have a unique opportunity to demand transparency from our government  through our constitutional right to know. Though six other states have similar provisions, Montana is the only state in which the Legislature cannot restrict our right to request information. In fact, the only limit on our right to know is our equally strong constitutional right to privacy.