Sunshine Week Home Page »

Text of Iowa Gov. Vilsack's Sunshine Week 2006 Proclamation

Published: March 22, 2006
Last Updated: March 22, 2006

WHEREAS the founders of our nation took it upon themselves to protect citizens from the abuse of governmental power by enacting the Bill of Rights, promising freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to due process; and

WHEREAS the founders of our nation believed, as we do, that access to public information and the right to share that information with others without fear of reprisal is essential for a free society to prosper; and

WHEREAS even today, the men and women of our Armed Forces are put in danger to protect these freedoms; and

WHEREAS the terror-ridden and despotic regimes around the world have shown that democracy cannot flourish when the public’s right to know is compromised; and

WHEREAS journalism organizations and concerned citizens celebrate “Sunshine Week” in March to educate all Americans about the importance of preserving our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press;

THEREFORE, I, Tom Vilsack, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim March 12-18, 2006, as “Sunshine Week” in Iowa.