Sunshine Week Home Page » Sunshine Week 2005 Participants » Governors' Sunshine Week Proclamations »

Kansas Governor's Sunshine Week Proclamation

Published: October 04, 2005
Last Updated: October 04, 2005

Kansas Governor's Sunshine Week Proclamation

TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence states that the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may be secured only where governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; and

WHEREAS, James Madison, the father of our nation's Constitution, said "a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives;" and

WHEREAS, Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are cornerstones of all democratic societies and valued as important fundamental rights by all Kansans; and

WHEREAS, Open government is a fundamental principle for our democracy and access to government information is essential for a free electorate to make informed decisions; and

WHEREAS, History has proven that freedom does not long survive when the public's "right to know" is compromised, eliminated or unduly regulated by government officials; and

WHEREAS, I fully support the right of Kansans to have access to government documents under the Kansas Open Records Act and government meetings under the Kansas Open Meetings Act;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim March 13-19, 2005 as

in Kansas and urge all citizens to join in this observance.

DONE: At the Capitol in Topeka
under the Great Seal of the
State this 8th day of
March, A.D. 2005

BY THE GOVERNOR: Kathleen Sebelius (sig)

Ron Thornburgh (sig), Secretary of State