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Obama Admin brings back the Freedom of Information Act

boingboing.net — Obama adminstration brings back the Freedom of Information Act and transparency in government

Who dugg this? Made popular Jan 22, 2009

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  • carbonfilament, on 01/22/2009, -7/+422Not bad for two days work. I hope that this trend continues!
  • pjosemroy, on 01/22/2009, -6/+417'Unbridled' access to Information on government activities will be the best way to sanitize the administration. A Great News for Democracy!
  • Insightful, on 01/22/2009, -5/+260THE WHITE HOUSE

    Office of the Press Secretary



    For Immediate Release January 21, 2009


    January 21, 2009



    MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

    SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Act


    A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires
    transparency. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, "sunlight is said
    to be the best of disinfectants." In our democracy, the Freedom
    of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability through
    transparency, is the most prominent expression of a profound
    national commitment to ensuring an open Government. At the
    heart of that commitment is the idea that accountability is in
    the interest of the Government and the citizenry alike.

    The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a
    clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails.
    The Government should not keep information confidential merely
    because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure,
    because errors and failures might be revealed, or because
    of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never
    be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of
    Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed
    to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive
    branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit
    of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of
    the public.

    All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure,
    in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied
    in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The
    presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions
    involving FOIA.

    The presumption of disclosure also means that agencies should
    take affirmative steps to make information public. They should
    not wait for specific requests from the public. All agencies
    should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is
    known and done by their Government. Disclosure should be timely.

    I direct the Attorney General to issue new guidelines
    governing the FOIA to the heads of executive departments and
    agencies, reaffirming the commitment to accountability and
    transparency, and to publish such guidelines in the Federal
    Register. In doing so, the Attorney General should review FOIA
    reports produced by the agencies under Executive Order 13392
    of December 14, 2005. I also direct the Director of the Office
    of Management and Budget to update guidance to the agencies to
    increase and improve information dissemination to the public,
    including through the use of new technologies, and to publish
    such guidance in the Federal Register.

    This memorandum does not create any right or benefit,
    substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by
    any party against the United States, its departments, agencies,
    or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other
    person.

    The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby
    authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the
    Federal Register.



    BARACK OBAMA
  • inactive, on 01/22/2009, -6/+253This isn't just new administration... this is a sysadmin.
  • RogueGenius, on 01/22/2009, -11/+216Jesus! This guy has done more in two days than Bush did in his first 6 months!

    Well, Bush did bankrupt the federal gov't in the first six months, so I guess he gets kudos for that.
  • dynamiks, on 01/22/2009, -5/+147Good stuff Obama. Keep it up!
  • mac888, on 01/22/2009, -9/+137Hopefully, we'll soon have prosecutions of recent violators.
  • ChileanGoD, on 01/23/2009, -5/+111Now time to kill the patriot act.
  • lowtolerance, on 01/22/2009, -3/+102I'm really glad to see Obama is already on a roll with cleaning up some of this mess. He's got a tough few years ahead of him, but he's off to a great start, imo
  • fjsferreira, on 01/22/2009, -5/+96Now, tell us who killed JFK!
  • gsadamb, on 01/22/2009, -2/+87...says the guy who has no sort of response to the substance of the article, just petty denial.

    It's gonna be a real long four years for you. :)
  • leadfoot, on 01/22/2009, -29/+110While I'm still sceptical about this administration, this is great news for our Republic. We are after all a republic that follows some democratic principles. Reference the pledge of allegiance if you doubt me. I am seeing good things being done by this administration already and I like it! Now if he will just investigate and prosecute the entire Bush administration and restore the rule of law along with the constitution we would be golden!

    re·pub·lic (r¹-p¾b“l¹k) n. Abbr. rep., Rep., Repub. 1.a. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president. b. A nation that has such a political order. 2.a. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
  • WestonP, on 01/22/2009, -3/+72So, in two days, he has started the closure of Gitmo, appointed someone who realizes that torture is neither practical nor ethical, and made it really damn clear that this administration will honor the intent of the FOIA and take it a step further too. I'm really glad to see him starting to undo the mistakes of his predecessors (Bush wasn't the only offender, just the worst in recent memory). I don't agree with all of his views, but I do have a lot of respect for him and am proud that we have a President like him.
  • qubitz, on 01/22/2009, -5/+70Keep the good stuff comin' Obama!
  • angelgabe, on 01/22/2009, -5/+68HELL. FREAKING. YES.
  • nageroc, on 01/23/2009, -5/+60Since you're on a roll, Mr. President, repeal the Patriot Act.
  • Obsidian743, on 01/22/2009, -11/+66Obama's kicking ass. You go boy!
  • bsonline, on 01/22/2009, -5/+60Wow, you're objective "Barackalypse". It is amazing how a bold statement of no substance can be considered to have merit. This is a new government, for a country we can be start being proud of again. People like you seem like fools who have just lost a toy.
  • regeya, on 01/22/2009, -4/+57[citation needed]
  • lxWyndxl, on 01/23/2009, -4/+55Now next step: The Patriot Act!
  • gsadamb, on 01/22/2009, -7/+58Time until petty, cynical responses fill this article: 3...2...1...

    "Yeah, but, like, where's the CHANGE?"
  • tmonsta1, on 01/22/2009, -5/+56poprocksandsoda

    "All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA."

    dude... you're a ***** idiot... go back to listening to Rush, and then do us all a favor. Keep it to yourself
  • phrenzy, on 01/23/2009, -4/+55Only a Bush voter could possibly spin this as a bad thing. As seen in this thread.
  • lostarchitect, on 01/22/2009, -2/+53the article... i dunna think it says what you think it says.
  • LeviTheSmith, on 01/22/2009, -2/+52While I agree, I think Sony should cut the price even further.
    That is the main reason my friends don't have a PS3, the price.

    Oh and I agree with the bit about Jewish people from Mars, really opened my eyes.
    Thanks.
  • jroyale, on 01/22/2009, -3/+48In a word, WRONG.

    Go read the actual executive order before you completely embarrass yourself... again

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Executi ...

    Oh, and see section 6...

    "Sec. 6. Revocation. Executive Order 13233 of November 1, 2001, is revoked."

    That's Bush executive order that started all this mess in the first place... REVOKED!!!



  • ZeeSniper, on 01/22/2009, -5/+48Honestly I was skeptical as to how much good he could do at the start of his term

    I am both truly surprised and impressed.

    This is EXACTLY what the US needs
  • nalguita, on 01/22/2009, -8/+50Compare this to Bush's Patriot Act. Huge contrast...
  • redtaboo, on 01/22/2009, -3/+44Eight years, I hope!
  • skinturtle, on 01/22/2009, -4/+45Now if he would only do something about the corrupt news media organizations. I'm so sick of them ***** sitting there waiting for someone to make a false move so they can exaggerate the stories or twist the facts around to suit their own agenda.

    Bring them back to being news agencies instead of tabloids.

  • asgardshill, on 01/22/2009, -3/+43Talk about your Hercules cleaning out your Augean Stables.
  • andrew522, on 01/22/2009, -6/+45http://samuelatgilgal.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/ ...
    now shut the ***** up.
  • letherial, on 01/22/2009, -1/+38im just waiting for the cry of socialism cause you know...everyone is sharing information.
  • mtjohnson, on 01/22/2009, -2/+38What *he* did in 2007? The open government act was a bill sponsored by Harry Reid and was passed in the house and senate by huge margins, so even if he wanted to veto it, it would have been overridden.

    EO 13233 (from Bush) further expanded on EO 12667 (from Reagan), both basically say any sitting or former presidents can delay release of Presidential documents forever, the only recourse being a lawsuit.

    13233 was partially struck down by the federal courts, and Obama just killed the rest.

    So what were you saying again?
  • twiztidsinz, on 01/23/2009, -2/+36http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertific ... BUT WHERE'S HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?????
  • TrAzE28, on 01/22/2009, -6/+40Yea and the ***** who removed the F.O.I. act should be drawn and quartered. . .
  • SangekiRein, on 01/22/2009, -2/+35It's astonishing how many people are eager to fault the guy for radical change. True the FOIA never went anywhere, but Obama is making it known that it is here and that it is accessible and that it needs to remain that way! The reason why he addressed it was because secrecy had been so widely acceptable for the last 8 yrs.

    Obama said it clear as day, the government shouldn't make things secret just because they can. I guess the name of the article should be Transparent Government Renewed.
  • latrosicarius, on 01/22/2009, -1/+34Or what's inside Area 51 and Wright-Patterson AFB?
  • malex, on 01/22/2009, -1/+34Hopefully a lot more than four, gsadamb.
    Future administrations have to learn that Americans won't stand for secrecy and violations of our civil liberties...

    (Well, except for so-called Americans like "supercandy," I suppose.)
  • turbosarus, on 01/22/2009, -8/+40YAY - The last 8 years, I had no ***** clue what was going on.
  • rescu911, on 01/22/2009, -1/+30According to the article:
    "This statement is almost certainly meant to address a controversial memo issued by John Ashcroft in the wake of 9/11, which ordered agencies to disclose information only after considering all possible reasons to withhold it, and assured them that government lawyers would defend their decisions in court unless they had no "sound legal basis." Many open government advocates believe Ashcroft's policy effectively gutted the FOIA over the past several years. Today's memo doesn't explicitly reverse that policy, but directs the incoming attorney general to issue new FOIA guidelines to agencies "reaffirming the commitment to accountability and transparency."
  • bdejong11129, on 01/22/2009, -2/+30I would bet the if Obama discovered the cure for cancer in his spare time the die hard group of pundits and nay-sayers would proclaim that it was the previous administration that did all the work and he just stumbled upon it.

    Regardless of the wording of the title the fact that he is making a statement that the government should be open to the people they serve and the presumption should be to release unless there is a specific reason not to is a reversal of the previous rule of dont release unless there is a lawsuit.

    Really, the best and most important part is the statement that the government should NOT wait for a request, but it should make public all that it can. After all we pay for all that information we should have immediate and unrestricted access to it without having to fill out a form and beg for it.

    Its not so much that he is inventing or creating FOIA, he is making good on his promise to make government transparent and accountable to the people. No matter who you support this is a good idea and lets hope for more....
  • Stagle, on 01/22/2009, -3/+31just keeps getting better.
  • Babazoz, on 01/23/2009, -5/+31"A Great News for Democracy!"

    And a crushing blow for literacy, apparently.
  • Echosphere, on 01/22/2009, -2/+28Viva la digital revolution!
  • PhoenixAvatar2, on 01/22/2009, -1/+26Still waiting for a [citation], pop.
  • MediaWeasel, on 01/22/2009, -1/+26Quite.
  • FredFredrickson, on 01/22/2009, -1/+25The pledge of allegiance has very little to do with the founding ideals of our republic. It wasn't created until over a hundred years after the country was founded, and has been modified and changed multiple times since then.
  • kooredaan, on 01/22/2009, -3/+27Sarcasm?
  • sigmaman2, on 01/22/2009, -3/+27What were the lyrics to that Wizard of Oz song?

    "You're out of the woods, you're out of the dark, you're out of the night..."
    "Step into the sun, step into the light!"
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