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secrecy

Reporter sues to find out how Bush and Cheney sought to shape perceptions of their administration

donal brown December 1, 2011

A Gawker reporter is suing the National Archives and Records Administration for information about how former President George W. Bush and his vice president, Dick Cheney tried to shape public opinion during their tenure. The reporter is not seeking the Bush administration documents protected under law from disclosure but rather the identities of those who sought records. -db From the Courthouse News Service, December 1, 2011, by Adam Klasfeld. Full story  

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California: State senator bids to improve access to Public Utility Commission documents

donal brown December 1, 2011

State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco will introduce a bill in January to repeal a law requiring a vote of the Pubic Utilities Commission before most records can be released to the public. Yee is sponsoring the bill after allegations that Pacific Gas and Electric was less than forthcoming with documents concerning the pipeline explosion last year in San Bruno. The PUC , said Yee, failed to regulate PG&E adequately.  -db From the San

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Call it the Not-so-public Utilities Commission

FAC November 29, 2011

If you’re worried about natural gas pipelines running near your home or business, prepare for a long battle to get key information from California’s Public Utilities Commission. Under a 60-year-old law, vast numbers of documents — including regulatory reports and safety studies — are secret, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. What’s more, PG&E often has the last word on what the public will be able to see. A Chronicle survey shows that most states routinely

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Defense Department makes it easier to obtain court filings in Guantanamo trials

donal brown November 28, 2011

As trials of accused terrorists begin at Guantanamo Bay, the Defense Department released new regulations designed to create better access to court filings. Journalists have objected to the long review processes for obtaining court filings without which they were lost when covering the trials. -db From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, November 22, 2011, by Kirsten Berg. Full story    

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Candidate Cain: Public loses when confidentiality agreements settle grievances

donal brown November 17, 2011

The public may never know the truth about alleged sexual harassment by Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain because Cain’s former employer, the National Restaurant Association, signed confidential settlement agreements sealing the lips of all involved. These confidential agreements, argues Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute, often do great harm by shielding dangerous people and products. -db From a commentary in the San Francisco Chronicle, November 15, 2011, by Wesley J. Smith. Full story  

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