A controversial bill from 2005 could make it's way back through the state legislature. House Bill 218 would have allowed government to keep negotiations with private industry secret. It made it's way through the State House in 2005, but was stalled in the Senate:

Supporters say the measure is needed to help the state recruit employers. Georgia is at a disadvantage, they say, because the current law's requirement that government documents be available to the public means officials from neighboring states can request a copy of the incentives Georgia is offering a company, then up the ante.

Some executives with companies considering a Georgia plant are also nervous about the possibility of publicity, said Rep. Burke Day, R-Tybee Island.

"It's just too risky to attract a company if they're concerned that it's going to be exposed to the world before they can get back to talk to their hometown employees or even the stockholders," Day said.

Opponents argue that there is little evidence that the state's open-records laws have caused Georgia to lose a single development prospect.

Attorney General Thurbert Baker, a Democrat, made it clear during the campaign that he opposed the measure and feared it could lead to even more exemptions from open-records laws.

"If you start on that slippery slope, it's hard to get off of it," said Baker, who has frequently been applauded by open-records advocates for his efforts on the issue.

Hopefully, our delegations wants the citizens to be aware of what's going on in a developing county like Henry. I'm hoping that if this legislation is brought to the floor again that they will vote against it, unlike the last time.

Hat tip to Peach Pundit.