House GOP seeks hourly fee for public records searches

The Indiana House has passed a measure that would bill journalists and the public $20 per hour rate for records requests under open government laws if they take more than two hours to complete.

The measure by Rep. Kathy Richardson, R-Noblesville, was approved Thursday on a 62-25 vote. It now goes to the Senate.

Richardson said public records requests can be a burdensome annoyance that take up an excessive amount of government workers' time.

Democrats including Rep. Matt Pierce of Bloomington blasted the proposal as "not a good policy, not a good principle." He said government employees are paid by taxpayers who should not have to pay for documents.