Bush Signs 'Open Government Act' - Immediately Rewrites Provisions

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from Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/2/9486/36922

Bush signs the Open Government Act in semi-secrecy

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 06:48:06 AM PST

George Bush has signed into law S. 2488, a bill that strengthens the Freedom of Information Act. There are a lot of signs that Bush did not much like this Open Government Act, so it's significant that he didn't veto it.

As a point of comparison, let's look at which elements the Associated Press chose to include in its summary of the legislation. According to AP, the new law: (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2h-wOpWezQJGWaZ7AwxYmTJKxgAD8TSPOPG0)

* requires the release of requested documents unless their disclosure would do actual harm
* brings government contractors under FOIA
* compels the government to respond to FOIA requests within 20 days of their receipt
* creates a system by which citizens may track the progress of their requests
* establishes a hot-line service for all federal agencies to cope with problems
* establishes an ombudsman to help resolve disputes about non-disclosure

By contrast, the published WH summary mentions only that the law "amends (FOIA) by...": (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071231-4.html)

(1) establishing a definition of "a representative of the news media;" (2) directing that required attorney fees be paid from an agency's own appropriation rather than from the Judgment Fund; (3) prohibiting an agency from assessing certain fees if it fails to comply with FOIA deadlines; and (4) establishing an Office of Government Information Services in the National Archives and Records Administration to review agency compliance with FOIA.

You'll note that there's barely any overlap between the elements that the AP and the White House highlight. Furthermore the four elements listed by the WH say virtually nothing about the need or the mechanisms for greater openness – the very goal of the legislation . . .


post: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/2/9486/36922

[Maat]

1. It just never ends, does it?

This law school graduate (non-practicing) would truly appreciate it if someone (ANYONE) in Congress would grow a spine, and loudly protest this nonsense.

His administration needs to fully comply with the laws - as written.

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3. he makes Orwell look like Mother Goose

[Canuckistanian]

2. By the OP title, I thought this was The Onion

Yet why am I not surpised?