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FOIA

Opinion: Obama’s performance flawed on First Amendment issues

donal brown April 3, 2012

While pledging to become the most transparent government in history, the Obama administration has fallen far short of that lofty promise. They made some strides in releasing some files and documents  such as the torture memos but have been secretive about domestic spying. They have also been criticized for prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage Act and for denying lobbyists access to the administration on the stimulus bill’s allocations. -db From a commentary for the First

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Federal Communication Commission outdoes CIA in secrecy

donal brown March 22, 2012

Data showing  responses to federal Freedom of Information Act requests indicate that the Federal Communications Commission is the most secretive government agency, even outdoing the Central Intelligence Agency. The FCC is rejecting FOIA requests at the rate of 48 percent dwarfing all other government agencies. The CIA by contrast rejects requests at the rate of 0.7 percent. -db From The Daily Caller, March 21, 2012, by Josh Peterson. Full story    

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Federal appeals court rules fugitives no right to IRS records

donal brown March 19, 2012

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals supported the government’s position that two fugitives accused of tax evasion could not have access to IRS records assembled as part of the criminal investigation against them. The two fugitives, both U.S. citizens, most likely fled to China to evade a criminal trial while in the meantime the IRS initiated a civil investigation of their companies and assessed them $1.75 million in back taxes, penalties and interest. The attorney

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Sunshine Week: Obama administration wants to extend exemptions under Freedom of Information Act

donal brown March 15, 2012

The Obama administration is asking Congress to grant new exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to keep secret selected information about cybersecurity, government computer networks, and certain industrial plants and pipelines. The FOIA already allows the government to withhold information that would hurt national security, invade personal privacy, reveal business secrets or compromise decision-making in certain areas. -db From the Washington Post, March 13, 2012, by Associated Press. Full story    

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