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Home > The Secrecy File > Archives > 2008 > March > 12
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Cornyn-Leahy introduce new FOIA reform
Most people don’t realize this, but there are hundreds of exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act buried in laws passed by Congress.
The legislation is intended to coincide with Sunshine Week, which starts on Sunday. For those in the dark, that is a week devoted to prying open the byzantine ways of Congress and the federal government.
The exemptions to FOIA addressed in the measure are known as (b)(3) statutory exemptions. They are typically tucked away in massive legislative proposals, making it difficult for requestors to determine whether access to information is subject to FOIA.
“This latest bill is an effort to further enhance government transparency and accountability,” Cornyn said. “Sunshine Week is an opportunity to highlight these important principles of our founding fathers; a truly self-governing society depends on an informed citizenry. Chairman Leahy and I will continue working together to ensure the public’s fundamental right to know what their government is doing.”
Similar legislation unanimously passed the Senate during the last Congress but died in the House. The new measure comes just three months after President Bush signed legislation, sponsored by Leahy and Cornyn, that made the first major changes to FOIA in over a decade.
“This Congress has signaled its support for strengthening the Freedom of Information Act,” Leahy said. “While some government information needs to be kept secret, we cannot allow the government to hide behind the veil of secrecy and curb the public’s right to know, just to avoid accountability. Our new legislation will take steps to make clear those exemptions to FOIA, and this is a fitting start to Sunshine Week.”