Court taking up whether lawmakers can keep emails private

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Supreme Court will consider whether a state lawmaker's emails and other correspondence with utility company officials about proposed legislation can be kept private.

The court is set to hear arguments March 17 in an appeal of a Marion County judge's decision in a lawsuit filed against Republican Rep. Eric Koch (kuk) of Bedford and the House GOP caucus.

The Citizens Action Coalition and other groups argue that Koch's correspondence should be available under the state's public records law. Koch's unsuccessful bill last year would have cut how much utilities must pay for excess electricity generated by home solar power systems.

Judge James Osborn ruled in August that he couldn't interfere in legislative branch operations.

Legislative leaders maintain that the General Assembly is exempt from the public records law.