Faced with increasing push-back from the public, the media, government watchdogs and a bipartisan list of lawmakers, the Department of Justice Thursday agreed to drop a proposed regulation that would have allowed government agencies to lie to members of the public seeking records through the Freedom of Information Act.
Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has been a champion in the post-9/11 era of the need to balance tough national security measures against concerns for civil liberties and privacy protections. Wednesday he sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder expressing “deep concern” over a plan to rework a key regulation tied to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The new regulation, known as 16.6(f)(2), would allow the government to lie to citizens seeking sensitive information.
Only in Washington …
On March 26, 2009, the Office of Information Policy (OIP), Department of Justice, will host a governmentwide training conference to discuss President Obama’s and Attorney General Holder’s Memoranda which establish a new era of open government.
…
No pre-registration is required. However, you must present your Government ID to attend the training.
As one of his first official acts, President Barack Obama issued an executive memorandum instructing members of his administration “to operate under principles of openness, transparency and of engaging citizens with their government.” There are a number of ways Colorado state and local government can follow suit and join the President in his commitment to an “unprecedented level of openness in government.”
A new federal law meant to strengthen the way government agencies process Freedom of Information Act requests would be undermined by a provision in President George W. Bush’s new 2009 budget proposal, according to government transparency groups and a lawmaker…
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
rss