FOIA

July Fourth marks 50th anniversary of Freedom of Information Act

2016-07-01T15:17:13-05:00

Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into the law the landmark federal Freedom of Information Act on the Fourth of July. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed an update to the law, adding new transparency measures. A reluctant Johnson signed the original legislation July 4, 1966, without fanfare. News Industry leaders and members of both parties in Congress had pressed for the law, which took effect in 1967. Johnson's  signing statement distributed to news reporters in San Antonio who were covering the president during a Texas trip shows toned down commentary by Johnson about the law, according to the [...]

July Fourth marks 50th anniversary of Freedom of Information Act2016-07-01T15:17:13-05:00

Cornyn-Leahy updated FOIA bill expected to become law

2016-06-14T16:30:21-05:00

By Todd J. Gillman The Dallas Morning News Originally published June 14, 2016 WASHINGTON – The Freedom of Information Act turns 50 years old next month, and just in time to celebrate, Congress has sent the president an update co-authored by Texas Sen. John Cornyn. “A healthy democracy requires an open and transparent government, and this bill will help ensure all Americans have better access to their government,” said Cornyn, the deputy Republican leader, who teamed up with Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy on the effort. The White House said in March that President Barack Obama would sign the bill into law [...]

Cornyn-Leahy updated FOIA bill expected to become law2016-06-14T16:30:21-05:00

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in Congress

2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

By Josh Hicks Washington Post Originally published Dec. 16, 2014 Nothing comes easy for the current Congress, which has already left its mark as one of the least productive in U.S. history. The Fighting 113th has agreed in principle on the need to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, a key government-transparency law that guarantees public access to federal records. But House leaders last week shrugged off an opportunity to schedule the Senate’s FOIA Improvement Act for a vote, despite bipartisan prodding from Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who sponsored similar House legislation. The House and Senate approved their [...]

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in Congress2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

Fifty groups push Obama on FOIA legislation proposed by Cornyn, Leahy

2014-10-24T13:21:59-05:00

By Mario Trujillo The Hill Originally published Oct. 23, 2014 A coalition of 50 groups urging more government transparency called on President Obama to publicly support legislation that would reform the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The conglomerate — including government watchdogs, civil liberties groups and media advocacy groups — wants a commitment that a number of reforms will remain in place after the president leaves office. "Only statutory reform and your public commitment to that reform will ensure the commitments you have made last beyond your presidency," the coalition said in a letter sent Wednesday, adding that legislation would "breathe [...]

Fifty groups push Obama on FOIA legislation proposed by Cornyn, Leahy2014-10-24T13:21:59-05:00

San Antonio Express-News: Freedom of information update vital

2014-08-29T14:02:46-05:00

San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board Originally published Aug. 28, 2014 SAN ANTONIO — The best measurement of government openness is to track the records it makes public. Since his first day in office, President Barack Obama has talked a good game about government openness, but he has failed to deliver. In fact, his administration has been one of the more secretive, denying and censoring records at a record rate and prosecuting journalists over leaks. This, despite a policy directive from the administration for agencies to assume records are open to the public. All the more reason then to support the proposed [...]

San Antonio Express-News: Freedom of information update vital2014-08-29T14:02:46-05:00

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