Freedom of Information Act

FOIA improvement bill by Cornyn, Leahy clears Senate Judiciary Committee

FOIFT2014-11-20T17:52:56-06:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved a Freedom of Information Act improvement bill Thursday that makes several updates to the landmark federal right-to-know law. The next step for the measure by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, is a vote in the full Senate. Many of the bill's provisions were included in legislation that already unanimously passed the House. Open government groups across the country, including the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, are urging passage of the act so it will be sent to President Obama before the [...]

FOIA improvement bill by Cornyn, Leahy clears Senate Judiciary CommitteeFOIFT2014-11-20T17:52:56-06:00

Commentary: Why we need FOIA reform now

FOIFT2014-09-17T15:43:32-05:00

By Anne L. Weismann Roll Call Originally published Sept. 17, 2014 Congress has returned from a month-long recess with a full plate and few legislative days left. Although it faces many competing priorities, Congress must pass the FOIA Improvement Act of 2014, a bill that enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. If enacted, this legislation truly will be a game changer, restoring the Freedom of Information Act to its original intended purpose of offering a “check against corruption” and “hold[ing] the governors accountable to the governed,” in the words of the Supreme Court. Key provisions of the [...]

Commentary: Why we need FOIA reform nowFOIFT2014-09-17T15:43:32-05:00

San Antonio Express-News: Freedom of information update vital

FOIFT2014-08-29T14:02:46-05:00

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 vitalFOIFT2014-08-29T14:02:46-05:00

After six years, UT law professor to gain access to previously withheld border information

FOIFT2014-03-26T13:40:38-05:00

By Christine Breitbeil The Daily Texan Originally published March 25, 2014 Six years after her initial request for public records regarding federally built fences along the Texas-Mexico border, UT law professor Denise Gilman has passed a significant barrier in receiving the documents. On March 14, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the government must disclose names and addresses of those affected by the border wall due to possible discrimination. In 2006, the U.S. Congress passed the Secure Fence Act, which mandated the construction of a 670-mile wall along the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Gilman, also co-director of [...]

After six years, UT law professor to gain access to previously withheld border informationFOIFT2014-03-26T13:40:38-05:00

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalists

FOIFT2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

By Jason Leopold Investigative Reporter Originally published March 7, 2014, on sunshineweek.org A few years ago, I met a longtime source at a local coffee shop in Los Angeles. He said he needed to break some news to me. I thought it was going to be something juicy. Perhaps he was ready to share some inside information about drones or surveillance or Guantanamo, topics that I report on. Nope. My source called the meeting to tell me he would no longer spill any secrets to me. He was very worried that the Obama administration’s crackdown on leaks and leakers could result [...]

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalistsFOIFT2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

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