How about a super-FOIA for NJ? Allow any member of the public to review any NJ government file and e-mail unless an official accountable to the courts declares an item off-limits on the basis of a tightly worded regulation? Moreover, if an official uses a private e-mail account or file system to conduct state work, then that account or system must be opened to public scrutiny so that public items may be disclosed. In essence, it would mean giving the public read-only access to all NJ government network drives and e-mail accounts.

The implementing regulation could allow that items concerning identifiable private individuals must be kept in a shielded folder and redacted when disclosed upon order by a FOIA official or the courts. Moreover, any inter-office item intended to be confidential would have to be publicly listed as existing, but could be shielded from review for a set period unless a state FOIA official found no good cause existed to keep it hidden.

I'll admit that this is a radical proposal, and perhaps not even completely feasible, but it does provide a good starting-point for thinking about how to make NJ government more transparent.