State health officials publicly reveal who violated pollution laws and how much they were fined.

The state’s top Freedom of Information attorney Jay Bender says the public has a right to know this.

But a Department of Health and Environmental Control board member wants to change that.

Board member “Sonny’’ Kinney Jr. of Kiawah Island wants to withhold the names of those who have paid their fines.

But Bender said the enforcement report lets the public know who broke the law and decide if the fines are adequate under the Freedom of Information Act.

“How do you know the fines are imposed legitimately and fairly unless you see all of them?’’ he asked.

The public should have a right to know who has past environmental or health violations, Bender told The State newspaper.

“Once you have served your sentence, you are still convicted,’’ he said.

Bender, who has represented the Chronicle in FoIA cases, said the information that you were convicted and the penalty you paid should remain public.

He said Kinney’s idea reflects the state’s culture of secrecy in government.

DHEC, one of the state’s largest agencies, regulates everything from air pollution to hospital expansions.

Kinney, a past president of the SC Health Care As sociation, told others on the board, “I don’t know that they need to report that to us. Does anybody got a problem with that?’’

Board members Chuck Joye and Rick Lee said they disagreed with Kinney.

DHEC staffers said the information is an effort to be transparent with the public.