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And the "secret senator" who did not want to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act is ...

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RagingInMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 09:37 PM
Original message
And the "secret senator" who did not want to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act is ...
Jon Kyl of Arizona.

Would you believe it? A republican.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about, I posted a thread a few days ago that was actually a cut and paste from an e-mail I received from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Today, I received another e-mail from SPJ that revealed the senator in question was none other than Jon Kyl. Just another reason why I'm glad to have moved out of Arizona. A cut and paste of today's e-mail is below.



‘SECRET SENATOR’ REVEALED. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is the first to earn the title “Senator Secrecy” for placing a secret hold on Senate Bill 849, also known as the Open Government Act of 2007. The bill would significantly reform the federal Freedom of Information Act, which is one of the strongest tools Americans have to supervise the inner workings of government and to hold elected officials accountable.

Ryan Patmintra, Kyl’s press secretary, confirmed that Kyl placed the hold to allow for more negotiations among him, bill co-sponsor Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and the U.S. Justice Department. It’s no secret that Kyl has concerns about the Open Government Act, Patmintra said.

“If Sen. Kyl’s concerns are no secret, then why would he insist on working from the shadows to place a hold on this very important legislation?” asked Christine Tatum, SPJ’s National President and an assistant features editor at The Denver Post. “The irony of secretly blocking a vote on a bill that would make government more transparent is supreme. Sen. Kyl should feel pretty silly.”

Kyl is behind another bill that concerns SPJ. Known as the Kyl Amendment, it would criminalize the leaking — and publishing — of classified information.

“So, Sen. Kyl is ‘Senator Secrecy’ in more ways than one,” Tatum said.

Is Kyl the only senator who placed hold on the Open Government Act of 2007? Only a few senators have not yet responded to SPJ’s questioning. We’ll continue to make calls and keep you posted.

ABOUT BILL 849. The Senate Judiciary Committee on April 12 passed the Open Government Act, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The bill would strengthen the federal Freedom of Information Act, reduce delays in releasing government records, and hold public officials accountable.

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a similar measure in March. But that bill was blocked from reaching the Senate floor for a May 24 vote because Senator Kyl placed a secret hold on the bill. It’s unclear at this time if he was acting alone.

WHAT YOU CAN DO. Together, we can determine if Senator Kyl had help. Visit SPJ’S “Senator Secrecy” page and see whether your senators already have been called or if they did not already comment. Ask simply and politely if they are working with Kyl. While you’re on the line, please make clear that you support the Open Government Act — and thatyou want your senator to do the same. Then submit your findings. We’ll add it to the online tally.

OTHER OPTIONS. You’re in a prime position to shed light on the Open Government Act and apply pressure where it is needed most. In addition to calling your senators, please consider the following:

— Write letters and send e-mails to your senators about the importance of the Open Government Act. All senators have a contact section on their personal Web sites. Visit the United States Senate Web site to locate your senator. Many senators will only respond to residents in their home state, another reason to think locally.

— Raise awareness and encourage members of your newsroom to write stories about this issue.

— Host a brown bag lunch meeting in your newsroom or on your campus where this matter can be openly discussed.



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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 09:39 PM
Response to Original message
1. Yep; here's another related thread. I will look at the man in a whole
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VP505 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 09:45 PM
Response to Original message
2. He was probably
chosen to do some of that kind of dirty work because he just got re-elected and has already said that he won't run again in 2012.
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tyedyeto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 09:51 PM
Response to Original message
3. Hiding my head in shame
I don't know what it is about Arizonans that they have to elect Repub Senators. :puke: I guess partly that our candidate (the AZ Democratic party rep, if that's the right word),. did not campaign solidly for Democratic values, IMHO.

At least my house rep. changed to a Dem!!!
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RagingInMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Immigration
When I lived in Arizona, immigration was the main reason many people voted republican.
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HCE SuiGeneris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:29 AM
Response to Reply #4
15. delete .. moved post
Edited on Fri Jun-01-07 01:31 AM by BushDespiser12
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IChing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:12 PM
Response to Original message
5. Wow this is major news for me
Which I think goes back to Justice in some ways
and is part of the whole ball of wax.

Nominated because this involves is 'FREEDOM" OF 'INFORMATION"

I wonder who his corporate and political handlers are?
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IChing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:15 PM
Response to Original message
6. Can you get some links or documents on this?
I do not kid you, I think this is a major part of the whole puzzle
because that legislature hold stopped so much on truth.
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RagingInMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:30 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. Here are a few links from the SPJ website
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IChing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 12:44 AM
Response to Reply #7
12. Thanks my friend
At least we know the players.
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progressoid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:35 PM
Response to Original message
8. Gee whiz Beaver, why would a Republican do this?
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caligirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-31-07 11:58 PM
Response to Original message
9. guess Kyl wants the SECRET SENATOR classified too? what a jerk.
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HowHasItComeToThis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 12:28 AM
Response to Original message
10. HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE REPUBLICAN????
GANGSTER
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 12:34 AM
Response to Original message
11. no shock there, Kyl is scum
glad I moved out of his state, although Domenici is as bad.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:26 AM
Response to Reply #11
14. I'm still here stuck with the asshole.
I guess deliberately disenfranchising the Native American vote (under the bullshit guise of preventing "illegals" from voting) with voter ID didn't hurt 'em much. :mad::mad::mad:
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:32 AM
Response to Reply #14
17. hey girl!!!
how the heck are you doing??

:pals:
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:29 AM
Response to Reply #17
21. Awwww...
I'm real fine (aside from the assholes :mad:)!




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Richard Steele Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:26 AM
Response to Original message
13. The real question this raises: where were all the DEMOCRATIC "holds" these last six years?
Edited on Fri Jun-01-07 01:32 AM by dicksteele
Seriously, I didn't even know they could -DO- that!!!

A single member can just say "this bill is on hold", and that's that?
End of story? Game over?

So.....*deep breath*...









WHY IN THE HELL

DIDN'T A SINGLE GODDAMN DEM

PUT A SINGLE GODDAMN "HOLD"

ON A SINGLE GODDAMN BILL

IN THE LAST SIX YEARS????



Seriously, folks...
we accepted the excuse that "we can't do anything because we we're a minority"
for a long time.....

And now that we are a MAJORITY, the excuse of the day
is "our majority isn't veto-proof"......

But now we finally learn that "Majority, minority, and veto-proof"
don't really mean JACK SHIT.... and they never did.

Because any single "minority Party" Member on a given Comittee
has ALWAYS had the power to just say "no"
to any legislation on the schedule?

I didn't know they could do that, because not ONE goddamn DEM ever did so!!!

Someone please tell me how this doesn't add up to "we been PLAYED".

Anybody.

Bueller?


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orleans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:43 AM
Response to Reply #13
18. i'm waiting for someone to answer you -- because i'd really like
to know how this "hold" works and why the fuck we haven't done it!
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Richard Steele Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:02 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. If anyone offers up a good answer, please PM me.
I'll be out in the back yard, beating my forehead against the ground.
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IChing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:39 AM
Response to Reply #13
23. Me too, it is bullshit.....n/t
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HCE SuiGeneris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 01:30 AM
Response to Original message
16. I hate this fucking state's seniletors...
Kyl has never once responded to my letters or e-mails. An absolute POS!
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StarryNite Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:27 AM
Response to Reply #16
20. I hear ya! We have sure had some doozies!
The slew of rethuglican governors was enough to make a laughing stock out of us.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:41 AM
Response to Reply #16
24. He's responded to mine...
with auto-form-letters completely ignoring the content of mine.
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dEMOK Donating Member (833 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 02:36 AM
Response to Original message
22. kr nt
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MiniMe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 06:27 AM
Response to Original message
25. If they don't have anything to hide, whats the problem?
Isn't that what they always tell us about wire taps?
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 06:30 AM
Response to Original message
26. Kick
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autorank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-01-07 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
27. K*R Hey Raging good to see you.
Will do. I know for sure that Webb would not work with Kyl. Warner, don't know bu I'll find out.

This is another of their many rear guard actions so that they can regroup and attack the American
Constitution again and again.

We are already living in tyranny. The question is, do we have the fortitude to see and act and,
most importantly, lead our representatives to a point where they actually say and do something.
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