LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Legislature gets to write the public records laws, but it largely exempts itself from any requirements to turn over documents.
The Legislative Counsel Bureau that assists lawmakers sent a 28-page denial letter after The Associated Press requested a week's worth of emails from the accounts of four legislative leaders.
The agency also denied a request for those lawmakers' calendars from the first week of February.
LCB lawyers say the Legislature doesn't qualify as a governmental entity under the public records law and said releasing the emails and calendars could chill legislative discussion.
Officials at Gov. Brian Sandoval's office responded to the same request by providing a detailed calendar.
Critics say it's hypocritical that the Legislature imposes transparency rules on others while refusing similar inquiries into its own business.