Gov. Andrew Cuomo has vetoed two bills intended to make it easier for New Yorkers to get information from their government, instead directing state agencies to hasten their court appeals when a judge orders them to disclose something.
One bill approved by the Legislature would have required courts to award attorneys' fees when the state denies access to information "in material violation of the law and with no reasonable basis."
The other would require state agencies to file appeals within 30 days instead of nine months when a judge rules they must make public documents, data or other information previously denied.
In veto messages, Cuomo calls the bills "inequitable" because they don't apply the same rules and penalties to citizens or groups making information requests.
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