Blog Posts and Analysis / Open, Accountable Government

DHS Finally Speaks on CII

Almost a full year ago OMB Watch filed a request, under the Freedom of Information Act, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for information on their Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) program. The request sought an accounting of how the program was used thus far including the number of submissions, rejections, and communications, as well as program procedures for handling information. Unfortunately, DHS was not very prompt with answers. In fact, it took a summons filed in the DC Circuit Court to get even a few pieces of basic information about the CII program.

read in full

Nuclear Commission Expands Secrecy Provisions

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to expand the amount of information that can be withheld from the public as Safeguards Information (SGI). The new rule would amend existing SGI regulations to cover more types of information by inserting language and adding a new category of covered information — Safeguards Information-Modified Handling (SGI-M).

read in full

Cornyn-Leahy Bipartisan Bill Would Strengthen FOIA

In perhaps one of the most significant moves to advance openness and accountability within the federal government in the last decade, Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the public’s hand in obtaining information from federal agencies under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Entitled the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National (OPEN) Government Act (S. 394), the legislation would:
  • Allow the public to recoup legal costs from the federal government for improperly withheld documents;

read in full

HHS Withholds Study Results Showing Head Start Is Effective

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to publish two reports that show Head Start is effective in raising the academic performance of low-income children. The National Head Start Association (NHSA) recently leaked the data, noting that the Bush administration continues its efforts to dismantle the program. Head Start advocates have been fighting the administrationÕs proposals to restructure the program for more than two years.

read in full

New Website Promotes Sunshine Week March 13

The Sunshine Week project debuted a new website this week, sunshineweek.org, that offers a number of resources and tools to journalists and others looking to cover or participate in this year’s activities. The intent of Sunshine Week is to highlight the importance of open government through news stories and other media during the week of March 13. Reporters and editors can find at the website an array of op-eds, story ideas, reports, links to participating groups nationwide, and other resources.

read in full

Freedom of Information Far From Free

The Justice Department has informed the People for the American Way (PFAW) that responding to the group’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all records related to the decision to seal the records of immigrants detained in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks will cost nearly $400,000. The unusually large price tag appears to be the agency’s latest move in an ongoing struggle to withhold the information.

read in full

D.C. Council Passes Bill to Reroute Hazardous Materials

Last week, the City Council of Washington, DC, voted 10–1, with one abstention, to enact emergency legislation requiring rail companies to reroute hazardous cargo around the city. This legislation, “Terrorism Prevention in Hazardous Materials Transportation Emergency Act of 2005,” will make Washington the first city in the nation requiring companies to route hazardous cargo shipments away from population centers. The bill now only needs D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams’ signature.

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.