Blog Posts and Analysis / Open, Accountable Government

Whistleblowers Face Alleged Criminal Investigation

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) investigation is targeting whistleblowers that have spoken with the media, as reported by MSNBC.com. The investigation stems from media reports that TSA removed air marshals from flights. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA, denies any whistleblower investigation is taking place, but is looking into the removal of the air marshals from flights.

read in full

Illinois Strengthens Open Government Laws

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) recently signed two pieces of legislation into law that expand current open government laws. The first requires local government bodies to record closed meetings; the second allows attorneys fees and court costs to be awarded to plaintiffs in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases.

read in full

Can Companies Sue Critics for Bad Product Reviews? Supreme Court Asked to Decide

Can companies sue critics who publish independent tests of products? The publishers of Consumers Reports have petitioned the Supreme Court to stop a suit that tests the right of consumers to be informed of independent test results.

read in full

Executive Order Assigns Information Sharing Development to DHS

The President issued an Executive Order July 29 that gives Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tom Ridge authority to develop the information sharing functions under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

read in full

First Data Quality Lawsuit Filed

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), an anti-regulatory group, filed the first lawsuit under the Data Quality Act (DQA) against the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP). The suit challenges a climate change report, “National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change,” and seeks to prevent its dissemination to the public.

read in full

Senate Denied Information, Again

The Treasury Department is following in the Bush administration’s footsteps of refusing to provide Congress with requested information. The Bush administration has shown a consistent trend of refusing congressional requests for information including such matters as the energy task force; use of new powers granted under the Patriot Act; and the classified Saudi section of the 9/11 report.

read in full

Counterterrorism Database Could Threaten Privacy

A Florida counterterrorism database is raising questions over the balance between personal privacy and homeland security. The Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (MATRIX) system is the most recent government tool that pushes the envelope for the amount and type of information on individuals that the government uses.

read in full

Pages

  • ©2015 Center for Effective Government
  • All Rights Reserved.
  • This an archive site of the materials produced by the Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch) and is maintained by the Project On Government Oversight.