Webster's Dictionary defines a hypocrite as "a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs."
When it comes to the state's Access to Public Records Act, the Indiana General Assembly is profoundly guilty of hypocrisy.
The legislature passed the act 32 years ago but has often failed to hold itself accountable to the law's requirements.
Most recently, public access to government emails sent by members of the General Assembly have been at issue. Environmental activists requested emails sent by State Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, in relation to a utility bill filed last session by Koch.
He refused to provide the emails, and House Republican leadership backed him up, drawing the scorn of Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt. He pointed out that local government entities in Indiana are compelled to follow the law -- and the legislature should be, as well.
"The intent of the (public records act) is to foster trust and good faith between the public and the government," Britt said.
The environmentalist group sued Koch to get access to his emails. But a Marion County judge ruled the court could not interfere with internal matters of the legislature, echoing an oft-cited 1993 ruling by the state Supreme Court.
Both rulings dodge the real issue -- whether citizens should have access to official email correspondence involving legislators.
The public has a right to see such correspondence to assure that legislation isn't being influenced by personal interests, financial gain and other considerations that contravene good public policy. Otherwise, email serves as a convenient way around public access laws.
Legislative leaders have often argued that the legislature's emails should not be public record because they could expose constituents to undue scrutiny.
But laws are law, and legislators should adhere to the ones they've created. Otherwise, in Webster's dictionary and in the eyes of Hoosier citizens, legislators are definitive hypocrites.