The report from the Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy, explores the disconnect between the public, the press and our public institutions, notably government. The report concludes we are in a watershed moment and must make reforms in our media and civic infrastructure. The report advances a series of recommendations aimed at the news media, civic educators and…
Tag: FOIA reform
Chief FOIA Officers Council meets for the first time
The Chief FOIA Officers Council, charged with addressing the most important difficulties in administering FOIA across government, met for the first time July 22 to begin the process of implementing a “release to one is a release to all” standard for federal records.
The policy would make agencies release FOIA-processed records to one requester and simultaneously to the general public by posting them online. Continue…
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Congress nearing agreement on FOIA reform
On the first day of his presidency, Barack Obama issued a memorandum reviving the Freedom of Information Act. Calling for “a new era of open government,” the President directed federal agencies to adopt “a presumption of disclosure.”
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Senate, House mull contrasting FOIA reform bills
A recent Congressional Research Service report compared and contrasted two Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, reform bills that are working their way through Congress.
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Michigan lawmaker wants FOIA exemption for lawmakers, Gov. removed
A Michigan lawmaker is renewing a push to subject the state legislature and governor's office to requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
This comes the same week the House Business Office released a summary of its findings on the recent sex scandal involving representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat. Continue…
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Opinion: Strengthen federal FOIA
When his first term began in 2009, President Barack Obama issued a directive to federal agencies to treat requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with “a presumption of openness.” But his White House counsel followed with a memorandum to agencies saying they should consult the White House anytime a request involved what he called executive-branch “equities.”
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Maryland legislature revamps public information law
Obtaining documents from government agencies in Maryland is no simple task. The process typically involves filing a written request under the state's Public Information Act and waiting up to 30 days — but can also lead to disputes over photocopying fees, redacted details or outright denials.
Reporters, lawyers, nonprofits and others have long had only one way to resolve disputes: in the courts.
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Maryland House passes major changes to public records access
Major changes to the Public Information Act reported on earlier have now passed both the House and Senate in essentially the same form.
HB755 passed the House Wednesday 139-1, and SB695 passed the Senate unanimously March 25.
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House Oversight panel approves FOIA reforms
The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday approved a bill aimed at increasing the public's access to government documents.
The changes to the Freedom of Information Act, approved by voice vote, were sponsored by Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md).
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Subtle push against FOIA bill begins in administrative branch
Lawmakers will scramble over each other to laud transparency and open government when considering legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act.
But FOIA reform often faces a difficult path toward passage as speculation mounts over its unintended consequences, sometimes stalling action on the bill by Congress. Who launches this quiet resistance against changing the nation's foremost public records law?
Federal agencies, that's who. Continue>>>
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