FOIA Facts – Mid-Term FOIA Grade for the Obama Administration
Scott A. Hodes provides perspective, and an overall grade, to how the administration has done during the first half of its first term in regard to FOIA.
Category «FOIA Facts»
FOIA Facts – Ideas for Faster FOIA Processing
Scott A. Hodes notes that in the current Congress there are bills pending that would create a commission to come up with ideas for faster FOIA processing. He contends that by taking those ideas, along with a few days of congressional oversight hearings to solicit other opinions, Congress would have ample information to create an actual bill that would implement faster FOIA processing now rather than wait for a “commission” to come up with these same ideas.
FOIA Facts: Nonsense
Senators Patrick Leahy and John Cornyn have introduced a bill establishing a committee of citizens to make recommendations on improving FOIA performance. A similar version of this bill was introduced in 2005 and went nowhere fast, according to Scott A. Hodes.
FOIA Facts: Why the Wait?
Requesters who are new to using the FOIA statute often complain that they have filed a request within the last month but haven’t receive their documents yet. FOIA expert Scott A. Hodes explains that the congressional budgeting process does not specifically provide FOIA operations within an agency a set line item amount. Thus, FOIA Offices usually have limited resources from within their own agencies to fulfill requests.
FOIA Facts: The Detainee Photo Issue – Is it What it Seems?
Scott A. Hodes comments on the Obama administrations’ decision to continue to fight the release of detainee photos.
FOIA Facts: DOJ AG Issues New Guidelines Establishing a System for Improving Transparency
Scott A. Hodes highlights the areas of this new DOJ guidance that are of the most interest to the FOIA community.
FOIA Facts: What Now?
Now that both the President and Attorney General have weighed in with FOIA Memorandum, Scott A. Hodes provides us with the procedural steps that will result within agencies, and the effect the memos will have on the nine FOIA exemptions.
FOIA Facts: President Obamas FOIA Memorandum and When Change Will Actually Occur
Scott A. Hodes notes the Obama administration’s immediate focus on FOIA, but reminds us that changing the ship of government requires numerous steps and constant vigilance to ensure change remains consistent and constant.
FOIA Facts: Expanding the FOIA
Scott A. Hodes highlights the recent introduction of legislation that would eliminate the FOIA shield for the Smithsonian Institute, and the continued lack of transparency when dealing with other federal agencies.
FOIA Facts: My Proposals for the FOIA
Following up on the passage earlier this year of the OPEN Government Act of 2007, FOIA expert Scott A. Hodes make two proposals absent from the law, but which would help FOIA requesters.