Republican Congressman Proposes Tracking Freedom of Information Act Requests

[maxrandb]

Source: Ny Times

WASHINGTON — Representative Darrell Issa calls it a way to promote transparency: a request for the names of hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens, business executives, journalists and others who have requested copies of federal government documents in recent years.

Mr. Issa, a California Republican and the new chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, says he wants to make sure agencies respond in a timely fashion to Freedom of Information Act requests and do not delay them out of political considerations.

But his extraordinary request worries some civil libertarians. It “just seems sort of creepy that one person in the government could track who is looking into what and what kinds of questions they are asking,”


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/us/politics/29issa.html?_r=2

---

Of course, it's Issa. So much for "smaller gubmint" and "individual freedom" eh?

Why could he possibly want to know the names of American citizens who submit FOIA requests?

What's next, our e-mails to various government agencies asking questions or expressing opinions?

I've got a better idea. How about if a citizen doesn't get a prompt answer, he contact Issa. That seems a better solution than just collecting the names and requests of US Citizens.

[upi402]

1. Issa is yet another phony Republican

These folks REALLY have some nerve!

[HawkerHurricane]

20. No, he's a real Republican.

A typical hypocrital Republican.

[TxVietVet]

22. Issa is a deluxe model of a hypocritical conservanazi.

:puke:

[Jackpine Radical]

35. The distribution law doesn't work in grammar.

Phony Republican≠Republican phony.

[Ian David]

2. We'll just start a non-profit that asks as an FOIA-Proxy to protect the privacy of requesters. n/t

[radhika]

18. I Love It!!! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Spectacular hypocrites, no doubt about it. This takes the cake.

Maybe he wants to know who is looking into HIS background, as sorry as it is.

Thanks for posting this oh-so-typical right-winger news. Oh, yeah. They surely want gubmint so small you can drown it in a bathtub, don't they?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/2099/1677024178_35d1bfb380.jpg

[DBoon]

6. They want a government just big enough to protect them from their slaves

nt

[somone]

4. We need to see his entire criminal record

[bobthedrummer]

5. Rep. Issa, how old were you when the House was investigating politicized criminal actions

taken against American citizens that were on "lists" for various reasons?

During the administration of Richard M. Nixon this involved the entire federal level of government, as "needed" in the various criminal programs targeting anyone who's name "happened" to be in politicized databases-just like totalitarian states.

Then there is the unconstitutional, criminal involvement of the entire US intelligence community domestically that was running "programs" prior to the Nixon administration as well as John Edgar Hoover's various COINTELPRO archetypes that go back to the post-WWI era combined with local and state law enforcement "intelligence units" and other sources used to develop the "targets" to consider.

This has only increased because the reforms called for by the House investigation at that time were never taken-in fact not even a FOIA request can get a citizen a copy of the full final report of that House investigation today-just like a totalitarian state. Its most likely because of the LIABILITY of the harm our government did to some of its own citizens (including murder) that were on politicized "lists".

Below is a thread about that House investigation, Rep. Issa and anyone else seeking truth and transparency. I don't know how old you were Rep. Issa then but this American citizen was indeed harmed by the blowback from one criminal domestic black operation from more than 40 years ago.

The Pike Committee (started 3-11-08)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2990965

[DBoon]

7. old enough to be charged with vehicle theft multiple times

A fellow soldier, Jay Bergey, claimed that Issa stole his Dodge Charger in 1971 while they were serving together and that, the day after he confronted Issa, the car was found abandoned on a nearby expressway. Asked about this charge in 2011, Issa denied it and suggested it was possible that other soldiers stole the car or that Bergey, whom he claims had a drinking problem, had abandoned it himself while intoxicated."<3>

After receiving a hardship discharge in 1972 following his father's heart attack, Issa earned his General Educational Development (GED) certificate and began taking classes at Siena Heights University, a small Catholic college in Adrian, Michigan. He continued his military service in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)."<3>

Twice during that year he was arrested. In March, Issa and his brother William were charged with stealing a Maserati from a dealer's showroom in Cleveland. Issa says it was a matter of mistaken identity by the Cleveland Heights police; the case was later dismissed.<3>

Before that had happened, in December 1972, police in Adrian pulled Issa over for going the wrong way on a one-way street and, as he was retrieving his registration, saw in the car's glove compartment what turned out to be a .25-caliber Colt automatic handgun inside an ammunition box, along with a military pouch containing 44 rounds, a tear gas gun and two rounds for that. Issa was charged with carrying a concealed weapon; ultimately he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possession of an unregistered firearm. He was sentenced to six months' probation and paid a small fine.<3>.<6> At the time Issa told police that Ohio law allowed such possession of a handgun with a justification; his was the need to protect the car and himself. Years later, he said that the car and gun were his brother's, which William Issa supported. He had been unaware of the gun's presence when inadvertently driving the car the wrong way down the alley and that, to the extent of his knowledge, there had been no ammunition present. The entire incident, he had believed, had been expunged.<3>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Issa

[bobthedrummer]

8. I learn something everyday-thanks DBoon!

:hi:

[Bozita]

13. Wasn't there some insurance fraud in Issa's past too?

[66 dmhlt]

16. "The New Yorker" airs Issa's dirty laundry

A recent "The New Yorker" had a great article documenting Issa's egal conundrums. This is a brief summary (the article is pretty long).

Darrell’s Shenanigans - or "Everyone Has a Past"

Lied about receiving “highest possible” ratings in the Army as he claimed, when he actually “received unsatisfactory conduct and efficiency ratings and was transferred to a supply depot.”

Lied when he falsely claimed he had “provided security for President Richard Nixon and had swept the stadium for bombs when Nixon attended a game of the 1971 Pirates-Orioles World Series.” Turns out Nixon never attended any World Series games in 1971

In 1971, a member of Issa’s Army unit, Jay Bergey, accused Issa of stealing his Dodge Charger. “I confronted Issa. I got in his face and threatened to kill him, and magically my car reappeared the next day, abandoned on the turnpike.”

A year later Ohio police arrested Issa and his brother and charged them with stealing a Maserati from a Cleveland showroom.

Later that year Issa was stopped for driving the wrong way down a one-way street, and when asked to produce the registration was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in the glove compartment. (Issa pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.)

A few years later Issa and his brother were indicted for grand theft auto when the two conspired to fraudulently sell Darrell’s car to an auto dealer, and then turned around and tried to collect the insurance money when Darrell reported it as stolen.

Couple years pass and Issa was sued after he crashed his truck into a T-Bird, injuring a 40 year-old woman. He settled for an undisclosed sum.

He was investigated for arson after the factory he owned burned down in a fire that was found to be “incendiary.” Issa had been seen by employees oddly removing all the company’s computers and more than quadrupling his fire insurance immediately before it burned down.

The insurance company investigating the arson also noted that Issa was not able to document any financial records showing where the money came from to purchase the factory.

When asked about this lack of documentation by “The New Yorker” reporter, Issa only replied: “Everyone has a past.”

Source:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/24/110124fa_fact_lizza

[Bozita]

26. Definitely MUST READ stuff! ... Many thanks for the link.

I'm guessing ol' Darrell's got something of a short fuse. Good thing he seems to take it out on walls.

[66 dmhlt]

27. You're welcome. Issa is pretty much an asshole.

[DBoon]

21. alleged insurance fraud

a business of his burned down after he had increased the insurance

[NBachers]

9. I'm so tired of hearing about this guy

Please, California- I'm so proud of the way we bucked the trend and elected so many wonderful people in the 2010 election, but can't we elect someone else in Issa's place next time?

[truthisfreedom]

10. he wants to make sure agencies respond in a timely fashion to Freedom of Information Act requests...

...and do not delay them out of political considerations.

If that's really what you want to do, Issa, perhaps you should be suggesting that there's an oversight committee to make sure that all requests are being responded to in a timely manner by our "gub'mint," rather than playing big brother to your fellow citizens.

[Fearless]

11. I'm suuuure that won't add to the debt they're so fond of talking about.

:eyes:

[SkyDaddy7]

12. I KNOW WHY!!

Just like Glenn Beck & other talk radio people give out people's phone numbers or addresses of those who they disagree with...It so these people can be harassed or worse! Seriously why else?

It is different but kinda the same mentality when Christian groups sit in adult novelty store parking lots or strip club parking lots writing tag numbers down so they can later publish their names in the local paper.

[opihimoimoi]

14. Its 1984 .....this is foolish and won't happen.....Issa looking like a nutcase

[WingDinger]

15. Issa is a paper tiger. And he is the supposed saving grace of the GOP.

Surely he can find something to get Obama voted to impeach by the Hous of reps. He is aiming to impeach Obama for carrying forward Bushes policies.

[JDPriestly]

17. He does not need the names of those making the requests in order

to track the efficiency and speed with which the requests are answered.

This is a fishing expedition to get the names of people who are interested in what is going on in specific agencies. Looking for donors maybe? This should not be permitted. And yes, we need to start all sorts of organizations that protect the citizens' privacy.

[maxrandb]

23. Exactly

Couldn't they just say..."hey, this FOIA was submitted on "blank", show me how it was resolved and how long it took."

There is absolutely no good reason to need the names of American citizens.

[benld74]

19. And this qill accomplish EXACTLY WHAT, ISSA? You Douche!

[Odin2005]

24. This is a way to intimidate people from making requests.

[eringer]

25. This is Nothing More Than an Obama Dirt Fishing Expedition

The article states, "Mr. Issa sent a letter on Tuesday asking 180 federal agencies, from the Department of Defense to the Social Security Administration, for electronic files containing the names of people who requested the documents, the date of their requests and a description of information they sought"
Well, Issa could care less about the people making FOIA requests. He is only interested in what they are asking for. This is his way of enlisting the American people to unknowingly help him attack the Obama administration. Issa can't do it alone and he could never muster enough dirt with his meager and uninspired staff, so he is hoping that "trolling" the FOIA files will dredge up a few juicy morsels.
That "I broke the law and the law won" Issa has to resort to such naked tactics, tells me that the Obama administration has been expecting such an assault since inauguration day and is totally prepared for the attacks.

[Rex]

28. Issa is a perverted, nocturnal, throat warbling rabbit fucker.

He licks the Balls Of Newtage.

[TheOther95Percent]

29. The FOIA Law as written now permits...

someone to ask an agency if a particular person has made a FOIA request and to get a copy of the request and any documents the agency sent to the requestor. That's why I submit my FOIA requests through a third party service bureau.

This would slow things way down if FOIA officers had to keep track of everybody making FOIA requests. I suspect that's the whole point.

[maxrandb]

32. This couldn't be a back-handed attempt

at intimidating whistle-blowers and journalist, now...could it?

[yellowcanine]

30. It is not a question of IF Issa is going to go "too far" but "when" and to what degree.

It just amazes me that Boehner is giving Issa any leeway at all.

Between Issa and Bachmann, the House Republicans are guaranteed to become a national laughing stock.

[bobthedrummer]

31. ^

[nalnn]

33. Question

I've never utilized the Act in question, but wouldn't they already keep records of who wants the info freed or do they just hand it out willy-nilly so long as it's not classified IUO?

[bobthedrummer]

34. Sunshine and Shadows: The Clear Obama Message for Freedom of Information Meets Mixed Results

(The National Security Archive/Electronic Briefing Book 308-posted 3-15-10)
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB308/index.htm

[bobthedrummer]

36. Death to (fill in the blanks)... kick

[classysassy]

37. Returning the republicans as the majority party in the house

was an insane idea and the public will pay dearly.