BREWER'S NONPUBLIC SCHEDULE NOW PUBLIC

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's schedule has been beefed up to include more of her appearances.

This week, for example, the schedule for the first time lists events “closed to the media at host’s request.”

(Parenthetically, one must wonder why two events this week have that designation: One is a salute to GOP legislators, the other a speech by the commander of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.)

In the past, such events would not appear on the schedule, leading to criticism by the media and others of Brewer. That was heightened when she made an unannounced appearance at a meeting in Florence to express support for the digging of a new copper mine in Pinal County.

Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson told the Arizona Capitol Times that the governor's office typically hasn’t list events that are closed to the press, “but we are trying to give you as clear a picture as possible as the governor’s public activities."

Benson said the change wasn't in response to any criticism but rather came out of a desire to be transparent.

See the governor's weekly schedule here.