Thank goodness. For now.

A controversial bill to shield government negotiations on economic development projects from public disclosure stalled in the Senate Thursday afternoon after more than an hour of discussion.

ìThis bill levels the playing field in the entire state so Georgia can compete better for jobs,î said Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), chairman of the Senate economic development committee.

House Bill 218 was tabled, a parliamentary move that sets the measure aside for later consideration, apparently because its passage was in doubt. The bill, introduced by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Garden City), had overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 118-52. Mullis said the bill probably will not return to the Senate floor for debate and a vote this week.

Critics of the bill have expressed concern that the bill could lead to widespread secrecy in industrial recruitment.

Yeah, let’s just look back in history and search for a time with secrecy in government was a good thing (other than, of course, national security type instances). I can’t find any – can you?