NYT/AP: Congress Eyes Getting More Info Released under Freedom of Information Act

[DeepModem Mom]

Congress Eyes Getting More Info Released
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 15, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Democrats are looking at ways to strengthen open government laws and force the Bush administration to release more documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., said legislation he is considering would be broader than an open government bill last year which sought to reduce the number of disputed FOIA requests and improve reporting requirements to Congress. The legislation never reached a vote in the House or Senate

Clay said the old bill will be the starting point for a new one that will take direct aim at the administration's practice of using the threat of terrorism to withhold ''nonsensitive information.''

''I am deeply concerned that this administration appears to be shielding information that ought to be accessible to the public,'' said Clay, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's subcommittee on information policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union urged the subcommittee on Wednesday to scrap what it said was the White House's ''policy of nondisclosure'' outlined in a 2001 memo by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Congress-FOIA.html

[Demeter]

1. Yes! Find Out What Cheney's Energy Task Force Did!

For starters, then uncover the money trails....