Here's the latest from 89.3 KPCC on the California Public Records Act and the budget amendments that will affect how local governments respond to California Public Records Act requests. This is a great example of the law of unforseen circumstances.
Freedom of Information
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Most Topular Stories
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Latest on California Public Records Act
The FOIA blog18 Jun 2013 | 8:34 am -
CPRA Budget Bill threat update: Editorials skewer “appalling,” “unbridled arrogance” of legislative “sneak attack”
FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION18 Jun 2013 | 7:15 pmThis morning Gov. Brown received the first bundle of letters in response to FAC’s call for him to Veto the CPRA Budget Bill threats, and by this afternoon, newspaper editorial writers across the state had joined the growing chorus of voices urging Brown to undo what the legislature had just done to Californians’ right to access [...] -
Press vital to holding government accountable
IDOG23 May 2013 | 10:05 amThe rush of commentary on the Obama administration's efforts to equate investigative reporting with espionage has brought to a new pitch the tension between the perceived need for governmental secrecy and the virtues of freedom of the press. Commentary by David Adler from the Idaho Statesman -
Election 2012: The Big Picture Shows Record Cost of Winning a Seat in Congress
OpenSecrets Blog19 Jun 2013 | 9:38 amIn a final wrap-up of 2012 data, the Center for Responsive Politics found that the cost of getting elected to Congress was up significantly over the last two election cycles. We've already determined that the 2012 elections overall produced in the most expensive election cycle ever, costing an estimated $6.3 billion. Newly updated numbers that we released today in the Historical Elections section of OpenSecrets.org, though, show that the average "price of admission" went up as well. The average winner in a Senate race spent $10.2 million, compared to $8.3 million in 2010 and just $7.5 million… -
Sunlight Reporting Group: Crossroads GPS pushes Congress to pass immigration overhaul in web video
Sunlight Foundation Transparency Ecosystem19 Jun 2013 | 2:02 pmCrossroads GPS, the nonprofit co-founded by Karl Rove that backs GOP candidates, has released an online video to push Congress to pass immigration reform as the Senate moves closer to a final vote on the overhaul. The 30-second spot appears ready for TV but a spokesman for the group, Jonathan Collegio, wrote in an email that it is a "targeted Internet buy for now." It comes in addition to a $100,000 print ad campaign that the group launched last week. The ad says millions are living in "de facto amnesty" because "Washington does nothing." It goes on to say that…
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The FOIA blog
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Latest on California Public Records Act
18 Jun 2013 | 8:34 amHere's the latest from 89.3 KPCC on the California Public Records Act and the budget amendments that will affect how local governments respond to California Public Records Act requests. This is a great example of the law of unforseen circumstances. -
California Legislative Proposal Strips Public Records Law From Local Governments
17 Jun 2013 | 11:57 amThe San Jose Mercury News reports on a legislative proposal in working its way through the California Legislature that is intended to save the State money but makes the state's public records act discretionary for local governments. -
FISA Information To Be Released?
14 Jun 2013 | 4:09 amThe New York Times reports on the Electronic Frontier Foundations positive ruling from the FISA Court that it would not stand in the way of a district court in releasing information purusant to a FOIA case -- the government had argued that the material should remain sealed. -
Ban Lifted on Medicare Data
12 Jun 2013 | 7:21 amReuters reports that a Florida federal court has lifted a long time ban on the release of Medicare rates. It is unclear how the government will respond, however the lifting of the ban, if left standing, will result in more information released pursuant to the FOIA. -
Farm Bill Passes Senate Without FOIA Amendment
11 Jun 2013 | 11:30 amAccording to OpentheGovernment, neither of the proposed FOIA amendments to the Farm Bill were adopted by the Senate when it passed the Farm Bill. However, the House still has to act on the bill before it goes to committee for reconciliation.
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FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION
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CPRA Budget Bill threat update: Editorials skewer “appalling,” “unbridled arrogance” of legislative “sneak attack”
18 Jun 2013 | 7:15 pmThis morning Gov. Brown received the first bundle of letters in response to FAC’s call for him to Veto the CPRA Budget Bill threats, and by this afternoon, newspaper editorial writers across the state had joined the growing chorus of voices urging Brown to undo what the legislature had just done to Californians’ right to access [...] -
Budget cuts to CPRA in SB 71 grab headlines across state
17 Jun 2013 | 7:21 pmOn Friday we posted a notice on the website and sent out a letter to subscribers urging them to sign an email to Governor Brown to veto the section of the Budget Bill that weakens the CPRA. Over the weekend news organizations across the state picked up on the story and headlines ensued: “California [...] -
A&A: School district denies Brown Act violation. What next?
17 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amQ: Thank you for your helpful website. I used your Cure & Correct demand template to submit a Cure & Correct letter to the Board of Trustees and the attorney representing our school district. My letter was sent on April 10, 2013, and it referenced several Brown Act violations related to a School Board meeting [...] -
A&A: Does Brown Act allow City secrecy about power plant plans?
14 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amQ: Our city has been trying to build a power plant. The 5-year CEC permit is about to expire. Can the City keep secret the development map and property owners names on the building extension petition? The petition for another 5-year extension was filed with the CEC before the Council ”formally” voted its support. Isn’t [...] -
Supreme Court lets ‘gruesome images’ decision stand
13 Jun 2013 | 11:24 amThe U.S. Supreme Court refused to take a case involving a court order that blocked anti-abortion activists from displaying large photos of aborted fetuses outside a Denver church holding a Easter procession. The church sued the activists to shield children from the gruesome images. (The Christian Science Monitor, June 10, 2013, by Warren Richey) In [...]
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IDOG
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Press vital to holding government accountable
23 May 2013 | 10:05 amThe rush of commentary on the Obama administration's efforts to equate investigative reporting with espionage has brought to a new pitch the tension between the perceived need for governmental secrecy and the virtues of freedom of the press. Commentary by David Adler from the Idaho Statesman -
Trustee calls foul on NIC meeting
22 Apr 2013 | 10:33 amA North Idaho College trustee is questioning the legality of a board meeting held earlier this month, and is calling for a motion passed as a result of that meeting to be rescinded. From the Coeur d'Alene Press -
Juvenile Corrections wants lawsuit docs sealed
21 Mar 2013 | 7:59 amThe Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections wants to have nearly all the documents produced as part of a lawsuit brought by whistleblowers made confidential and sealed to the public. From the Associated Press -
Pressure rises in Idaho health exchange clash; highlights gaps in state’s Sunshine laws
13 Mar 2013 | 7:18 amAhead of Wednesday's House vote, tea party and GOP groups have been fighting the business establishment. From the Idaho Statesman -
Nominations sought for open-government award
4 Mar 2013 | 7:08 amNominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Max Dalton Open Government Award sponsored by the Idaho Newspaper Foundation. From the Idaho Newspaper Foundation
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OpenSecrets Blog
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Election 2012: The Big Picture Shows Record Cost of Winning a Seat in Congress
19 Jun 2013 | 9:38 amIn a final wrap-up of 2012 data, the Center for Responsive Politics found that the cost of getting elected to Congress was up significantly over the last two election cycles. We've already determined that the 2012 elections overall produced in the most expensive election cycle ever, costing an estimated $6.3 billion. Newly updated numbers that we released today in the Historical Elections section of OpenSecrets.org, though, show that the average "price of admission" went up as well. The average winner in a Senate race spent $10.2 million, compared to $8.3 million in 2010 and just $7.5 million… -
Politicking Around Town: CRP's Guide to the Top Eateries and Hotels for Dems and the GOP
18 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amAs all good fundraisers know, it takes money to make money.And in the months leading up to the 2012 election, the most expensive in U.S. history, money was flying around Washington, D.C.: Congressional campaigns and party committees spent huge amounts at restaurants and hotels, much of which went to stage fundraising events. The Center for Responsive Politics followed the breadcrumbs and half-finished glasses of wine to craft our own tour of the city for those interested in discovering some eye-opening, and mouth-watering, secrets about money and politics. Here's the lowdown: Throughout the… -
The Politics of Fire
17 Jun 2013 | 11:26 amAs firefighters in Western states continue to battle wildfires, lobbyists in Washington are fighting their own battle over how to handle future blazes like the one in the Black Forest. Some environmental advocacy groups, local governments, and farm associations favor fire prevention, via forest thinning and ecological restoration. Others view the fires as inevitable and want the federal government to stock up on firefighting equipment like helicopters to better battle wildfires as they occur. OpenSecrets.org data shows the National Cattlemen's Beef Association has mentioned wildfires 29… -
Natural Gas Producers Pushing, Against Chemical Cos., to End Export Restrictions
17 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amEnergy companies are pressing hard for the U.S. government to lift restrictions on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the American Petroleum Institute recently moving to expand its already robust lobbying force in Washington. Market prices for LNG are typically higher abroad, and API's member companies could reap vast profits overseas. But the fight is pitting them against another strong presence in Washington with whom they are sometimes allied: domestic users of their product, including DOW Chemical, who fear that opening up LNG exports to other nations will spike the price… -
Parties in Supreme Court DNA Dispute Have Met in Washington Before
14 Jun 2013 | 6:46 amThe Supreme Court found Thursday that human genes in their natural form cannot be patented, resolving an ongoing debate between medical research companies that became a question for the justices in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. Myriad Genetics, a medical research firm, had filed patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- two mutated genes associated with certain types of cancer. As a result of the patent, the research activities of similar companies were hampered because they could not legally experiment on those strands. But in a unanimous decision and an opinion authored by…
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Sunlight Foundation Transparency Ecosystem
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Sunlight Reporting Group: Crossroads GPS pushes Congress to pass immigration overhaul in web video
19 Jun 2013 | 2:02 pmCrossroads GPS, the nonprofit co-founded by Karl Rove that backs GOP candidates, has released an online video to push Congress to pass immigration reform as the Senate moves closer to a final vote on the overhaul. The 30-second spot appears ready for TV but a spokesman for the group, Jonathan Collegio, wrote in an email that it is a "targeted Internet buy for now." It comes in addition to a $100,000 print ad campaign that the group launched last week. The ad says millions are living in "de facto amnesty" because "Washington does nothing." It goes on to say that… -
Sunlight Foundation: New G8 Open Data Charter
18 Jun 2013 | 5:32 pmThe G8 countries today released a new declaration, and with it an Open Data Charter policy paper, which together constitute a significant high-level commitment to open data and transparency. Sunlight has been close to the ideas, movement, and conversations that have helped lead to this announcement. We're thrilled to see such a visible, detailed statement from the G8, moving what has long been a national level issue, and more recently a multi-stakeholder issue, to now an idea jointly promoted and celebrated by some of the world's most powerful governments on their own terms. This statement… -
Sunlight Foundation: 2Day in #OpenGov 6/18/2013
18 Jun 2013 | 12:29 pmby Carrie Tian, policy intern NEWS: A California budget facing a vote on Friday would save millions - at the cost of crippling existing public record laws. The budget would remove the need for agencies to provide documents electronically and respond to records requests within 10 days. California would no longer need to reimburse its agencies for compliance with the laws, but right to know advocates worry about the impact on citizens and members of the media. (LA Times) How many times can a man retire? At least 3, according to Senator Cornyn (R-TX), who currently collects three separate… -
Sunlight Reporting Group: Americans for Prosperity takes aim at farm bill
18 Jun 2013 | 12:25 pmAmericans for Prosperity(AFP), a 501(c)4 non-profit backed by the family behind the Koch Industries conglomerate, is lining up with some unusual partners as it launches a multi-media campaign against the farm bill that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to consider this week. As the House takes up the bill, AFP has started an Internet ad campaign targeting 15 members of the House of Representatives, including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, according to a press release the group issued Monday. In addition, the organization has launched an email campaign urging voters to contact… -
Sunlight Foundation: Possible impacts of the Czech political turmoil
18 Jun 2013 | 11:19 amThe Czech Republic has been facing a rather earth-shattering corruption scandal that is probably one of the most revolutionary episodes in the history of the small Central European country - and the whole post-communist region since the transition. The political turmoil has been evoked by an unprecedented police action last week where some 400 anti-organized crime units raided national and local government offices and companies of high-profile business people with close criminal ties to the political elite of the country. Not only is the raid and the consequent wave of arrests an important…
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Deeplinks
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California Governor Must Veto Anti-Transparency Measures
19 Jun 2013 | 3:10 pmUpdate: The situation is developing rapidly in Sacramento. In response to widespread opposition, Assembly Speaker John Perez says the legislature will vote on another budget trailer bill that does not gut CRPA. According to the Sacramento Bee, if that passes, Gov. Jerry Brown will have a choice between the two bills. So, keep writing Brown to tell him not to sign the anti-transparency measures. Californians are on the verge of losing crucial tools for ensuring transparency and accountability in local government, unless Governor Jerry Brown uses his veto pen to strike out the section of the… -
EFF Amicus: Accessing a Public Website is Not a Crime
19 Jun 2013 | 2:49 pmIf you've ever looked for an apartment on craigslist, chances are you've taken notes: compiled a list of apartments, ranked them from most expensive to least expensive or by most desirable location to worst. You felt secure that you weren't breaking any laws, and definitely not committing a crime. This should be the case. But in a federal lawsuit, craigslist -- ordinarily a proponent of good Internet law -- took a different, and much more dangerous, view. Craigslist argued that, because its terms of use prohibit copying or aggregating information from its website except in very limited… -
Why A Special Congressional Committee Must Be Created To Investigate NSA's Unconstitutional Domestic Spying
19 Jun 2013 | 12:47 pmIn the past couple of weeks, the NSA has, unsurprisingly, responded with a series of secret briefings to Congress that have left the public in the dark and vulnerable to misstatements and word games. Congress has many options at its disposal, but for true accountability any response must start with a special investigative committee. A coalition of over 100 civil liberties groups agrees. Such a committee is the right way the American people can make informed decisions about the level of transparency and the reform needed. A Special Investigatory Committee is the Right Way to Shine the Light… -
Unplug Big Brother: NSA Spying T-Shirts Are Back
19 Jun 2013 | 12:04 pmPeople around the world have joined EFF's call to stop the National Security Agency's mass surveillance of ordinary people, and now you can show your support with our revamped NSA spying t-shirt for members! EFF's original 2008 design depicted the collaboration of AT&T with the NSA - a reference to our Hepting v. AT&T and Jewel v. NSA warrantless wiretapping cases. Now we see the NSA's glowering, red-eyed eagle using his talons to plug into all of your data. Join or renew your EFF membership today to help unplug big brother! These member t-shirts are printed in two styles. Classic fit… -
EFF Joins Over 100 Civil Liberties Organizations and Internet Companies in Demanding a Full-Scale Congressional Investigation Into NSA Surveillance
19 Jun 2013 | 7:02 amDozens of civil liberties organizations and Internet companiesincluding the Electronic Privacy Information Center, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, ThoughtWorks, and Americans for Limited Governmenttoday joined a coalition demanding Congress initiate a full-scale investigation into the NSA’s surveillance programs. This morning, we sent an updated letter to Congress with 115 organizations and companies demanding public transparency and an end to illegal spying. The letter comes even as dozens of groups are organizing a nationwide call-in campaign to demand transparency…
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The Fine Print: blog posts from Center for Effective Government
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Report: Public Interest Groups Outspent on Tax Issues
19 Jun 2013 | 10:24 amA new report from Public Citizen says that public interest groups working on tax reform are being vastly outspent by corporate lobbyists and PACs. According to a story in The Huffington Post: Some reform-minded groups are lobbying in favor of these bills, notes Public Citizen. But they are being drowned out by the lobbying in the other direction. Of the 383 lobbyists working over lawmakers on these bills, 331 were from companies or corporate trade groups opposed to them, by Public Citizen's count. Meanwhile, the companies and groups lobbying on these bills are represented by 46 different… -
Illinois Passes Strongest Fracking Bill in Country
19 Jun 2013 | 9:07 amToday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act (SB 1715), which would give the state the strongest oversight rules on fracking in the country. Though by no means perfect, the Illinois legislation is a step in the right direction and could influence debates and strengthen rules about oil and gas drilling and extraction in other states. Among the disclosure provisions in the legislation are requirements that drillers publicly report all chemicals they plan to use in fracking and to gather baseline water quality data, as part of the permit application… -
House Proposes Energy and Water Spending Cuts
18 Jun 2013 | 2:31 pmThe first major spending bill with significant cuts for the coming year was released this week. The bill, which funds energy and water programs, cuts funding for those programs by about 10 percent. Overall, the bill provides $30.4 billion, $2.9 billion less than fiscal year 2013 (before sequestration) and $4.1 billion below the president’s request. Several programs are cut by far more than 10 percent. The bill cuts funding for renewable energy by $911 million, or approximately half compared to the fiscal year 2013 level. By comparison, funding for coal, natural gas, and other fossil… -
State Budgets Are Improving, But Still Not Fully Recovered From Recession
18 Jun 2013 | 8:11 amThe National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) and the National Governors Association (NGA) have released their Spring 2013 Fiscal Survey of States. According to NASBO: The report’s findings show that fiscal distress is beginning to subside for most states as the economy improves after several years of slow recovery following the Great Recession. Forty-two governors recommended higher spending levels in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013, with aggregate general fund expenditures projected to increase 4.1 percent in fiscal 2014. At the same time, the economic recovery is… -
White House to Combat Tax Evasion
18 Jun 2013 | 8:05 amThe White House released a four-step National Action Plan this morning, June 18, outlining an initiative to tackle tax evasion and money laundering. The plan reflects an international initiative agreed upon by the U.S. and seven foreign governments at a G8 Summit being held in Northern Ireland. Ahead of the talks, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron had announced ambitions to discuss tax havens and tax evasion during the summit. The G8 Action Plan reflects the consensus reached in negotiations among the participating nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France,…
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UK Freedom of Information Blog
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Private member's bill would identify FOI requesters
19 Jun 2013 | 8:43 amThe identity of people making FOI requests would be made public if a new private member's bill succeeds. The Freedom of Information (Identity of Applicants) Bill, which will have serious implications for the privacy of individual requesters, is being introduced by Karl McCartney, the Conservative MP for Lincoln, who came 8th in the ballot for bills. The bill was due to have its first reading in the House of Commons today (19 June 2013), but Mr McCartney was not present. An article by the Campaign for Freedom of Information discusses its implications:Once requests have been answered,… -
FOI case law update - 5 June 2013
18 Mar 2013 | 9:02 amThe Campaign for Freedom of Information's next course on 'Information Commissioner & Tribunal Decisions' will be in London on 5 June 2013.This course, now in its 8th year, deals only with significant Commissioner and Tribunal decisions issued during the past six months. It aims to help experienced FOI practitioners and others with a good working knowledge of the FOI Act keep abreast of new developments. Its exact content is dependent on the decisions that have been issued during the period, but typically covers issues such as:"fair" and "unfair" disclosures of personal… -
Using the FOI Act! Training for requesters, 23 April 2013
8 Mar 2013 | 4:09 amDo you want to learn how to use the Freedom of Information Act? Are you already using the Act, but want to know more about how the Information Commissioner and Tribunal are interpreting key provisions?While making a FOI request is straightforward, making an effective request is more difficult. The Campaign's practical course is designed to help requesters make effective use of the legislation. The morning session provides a working guide to the legislation, covering both the Freedom of Information Act and parallel Environmental Information Regulations, and includes an interactive section on… -
Questions in House of Lords on Government plans to amend the FOI Act
28 Feb 2013 | 2:20 amLord Wills asked what plans the Government have to amend the Freedom of Information Act during oral questions in the House of Lords on 27 February.The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): My Lords, the Government intend to amend the Act to give the Information Commissioner more time to prosecute alleged offences under Section 77 of the Act and introduce a dedicated exemption for prepublication research. Other parts of our response to post-legislative scrutiny will be implemented through secondary legislation codes of practice and guidance.Lord Wills: My Lords, I very much… -
Justice Committee hears from Information Commissioner on Government's FOI proposals
13 Feb 2013 | 9:57 amOn 5 February 2013, the Justice Committee held a one-off evidence session on the work of the Information Commissioner's Office. The session provided an opportunity for the Committee to hear the ICO's views on the Government's proposals to make it easier for authorities to FOI refuse requests on costs grounds and revise its policy on use of the ministerial veto.Q25 Mr Llwyd: Can I ask you about the use of ministerial vetoes, which is again a very important point?...Is it the case in fact that the Government do not seem to be following their own statement of policy or that that statement of…
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Sunlight Foundation Blog
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New G8 Open Data Charter
18 Jun 2013 | 1:32 pmThe G8 countries today released a new declaration, and with it an Open Data Charter policy paper, which together constitute a significant high-level commitment to open data and transparency. Sunlight has been close to the ideas, movement, and conversations that have helped lead to this announcement. We're thrilled to see such a visible, detailed statement from the G8, moving what has long been a national level issue, and more recently a multi-stakeholder issue, to now an idea jointly promoted and celebrated by some of the world's most powerful governments on their own terms. This statement… -
2Day in #OpenGov 6/18/2013
18 Jun 2013 | 8:29 amby Carrie Tian, policy intern NEWS: A California budget facing a vote on Friday would save millions - at the cost of crippling existing public record laws. The budget would remove the need for agencies to provide documents electronically and respond to records requests within 10 days. California would no longer need to reimburse its agencies for compliance with the laws, but right to know advocates worry about the impact on citizens and members of the media. (LA Times) How many times can a man retire? At least 3, according to Senator Cornyn (R-TX), who currently collects three separate… -
Possible impacts of the Czech political turmoil
18 Jun 2013 | 7:19 amThe Czech Republic has been facing a rather earth-shattering corruption scandal that is probably one of the most revolutionary episodes in the history of the small Central European country - and the whole post-communist region since the transition. The political turmoil has been evoked by an unprecedented police action last week where some 400 anti-organized crime units raided national and local government offices and companies of high-profile business people with close criminal ties to the political elite of the country. Not only is the raid and the consequent wave of arrests an important… -
Announcing a new grant to Sunlight from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
18 Jun 2013 | 6:57 amSunlight is very proud to share the news that the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will award us $4 million over the next three years to increase our ability to make more government data more accessible, especially on the state and local level. With this new support, we will focus more on making more government data accessible to more and more people -- not just journalists and experts. This new funding from the Knight Foundation will go a long way toward giving us more resources to make online government transparency a reality, enabling us to continue to build tools to bring that… -
The SEC and Dark Political Money
17 Jun 2013 | 12:00 pmIn August 2011, 10 law professors petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require publicly traded companies to disclose their political spending. This is not a new issue. Back in 1999, a Harvard Law Review article urged the SEC to require new disclosures by publicly traded companies including reports on corporate political expenditures. But the urgency for a new rule stepped up considerably after the landmark court rulings Citizens United and SpeechNow in 2010. Citizens United allowed corporations to spend an unlimited amount on political ads. SpeechNow allowed…
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FOI Oklahoma
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Police dash cam video, audio recordings of arrests are public record, Okla. Court of Civil Appeals rules
31 May 2013 | 1:04 pmA police dash cam video of a DUI arrest contains facts concerning the arrest and therefore is public under the state Open Records Act, a three-judge panel of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled 2-1 Friday. In overturning a Rogers County trial judge, the majority relied upon a 2004 state Supreme Court ruling that Department of Public Safety recordings of administrative hearings concerning revocation of drivers' licenses are public. "If an Implied Consent hearing is considered 'facts concerning the arrest,' then surely the video and/or audio recording of the actual arrest… -
OCU fails to comply with Clery Act requirements
22 May 2013 | 9:50 amOklahoma City University failed to make its updated crime log publicly available in recent months despite being required by federal law to do so, campus journalists reported recently. OCU officials also refused to provide archived crime logs promptly and failed to publish up-to-date annual crime statistics by the required deadline, reported MediaOCU.com. The U.S. Department of Education office that investigates Clery Act violations has been sent the students' articles. Schools can be fined up to $35,000 for each infraction of the Clery Act. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of… -
Tulsa mayoral candidate won't sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge
15 May 2013 | 2:46 pmKathy Taylor won't sign a pledge promising voters that she will comply with the state's open government laws if elected to her old job as Tulsa mayor. Taylor and her two opponents, Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. and former City Councilman Bill Christiansen, were sent letters Monday asking them to sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge as they campaign for Tulsa's first non-partisan mayoral primary on June 11. Bartlett and Christiansen haven't responded to the request. Both men signed the pledge when they ran for offices in 2009: Bartlett for mayor, and Christiansen for re-election… -
Student journalist sues OU for access to parking ticket information
14 May 2013 | 11:22 amThe University of Oklahoma's claim that parking tickets issued to students are private educational records is being challenged in court by a former online editor for The Oklahoma Daily. Joey Stipek is asking a Cleveland County judge to order OU officials to release all parking citations issued by the university. Stipek's lawsuit, filed Friday, stems from OU's refusal to release electronic copies of parking citations issued to students in the spring 2012 semester. OU's open records officer, Rachel McCombs, claimed the information is confidential under the federal Family… -
Re-elected incumbent, two other Stillwater candidates pledged to comply with open government laws
9 May 2013 | 2:34 pmStillwater City Council incumbent Joe Weaver had signed FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge before his re-election in early April. Nine pledge-signers, including Weaver, were elected in municipal elections on April 2. Weaver, OSU's administration & finance vice president, promised that he and the Stillwater city government "will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of Oklahoma's Open Meeting and Open Records laws." Weaver also pledged "to support at every opportunity the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent…
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Secrecy News
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A Candid Look at the Senate Intelligence Committee
18 Jun 2013 | 8:06 amMuch of the continuing controversy over intelligence surveillance policy revolves around whether the sweeping collection of U.S. telephone data by intelligence agencies violates constitutional norms. But it is also an occasion to assess the quality of intelligence oversight, and to review the performance of oversight mechanisms in representing the public and defending its interests. So it was disappointing to read that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has blocked its former general counsel, Vicki Divoll, from speaking to Talking Points Memo (TPM) on the record about how the… -
Armed Conflict in Syria, and More from CRS
18 Jun 2013 | 7:58 amNewly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following. Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response, June 14, 2013 Syria’s Chemical Weapons: Issues for Congress, June 14, 2013 U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues, June 14, 2013 The Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations and Issues for Congress, June 17, 2013 The post Armed Conflict in Syria, and More from CRS appears on Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy. -
Hundreds of Classified Leaks Under Review by IC Inspector General
17 Jun 2013 | 7:28 amHundreds of cases of unauthorized disclosures of classified information were under review by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Intelligence Community as of last year, according to a 2012 report that was recently declassified. “The Investigations Division [of the IC Office of the Inspector General] is reviewing 375 unauthorized disclosure case files,” said the report from Inspector General I. Charles McCullough, covering the period from November 2011 through June 2012 (at p. 16). Most of these reviews pertained to disclosures which could not be criminally prosecuted… -
National Security Secrecy and the Right to Know
13 Jun 2013 | 11:28 amWhile almost everyone would agree that national security secrecy has a role to play in an open society, such secrecy must be carefully circumscribed if robust public access to government information is to be preserved. A set of principles that open societies around the world can use to help guide and limit the application of secrecy was published this week. The new Principles on National Security and the Right to Know were generated by an international group of scholars, government officials, activists and others convened by the Open Society Justice Initiative in an attempt to define a… -
NASA Releases Online Library on Risk Mitigation
13 Jun 2013 | 11:24 amNASA has produced a library of “knowledge bundles” describing how various technical problems that arose in the course of its space technology programs were successfully resolved. Last week, the library was posted online. If you want to know how a solar array was repaired in orbit, or how an astronaut dealt with a punctured glove, the answers can be found here. The NASA Knowledge-Based Risk Library “consists of subject-matter expert video interviews, white papers, articles, and presentations in order to provide an interactive and engaging way to identify and mitigate…
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The Sunshine in Government Blog
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Farm Bill Update: Showdown looms on FOIA’s balanced protections versus special interest
4 Jun 2013 | 11:52 amSenator Charles Grassley is again poised — as soon as today, although the timing is far from clear — to present a broad exemption that would set a bad precedent for the administration of FOIA. We recently wrote about our temporary win. The proposal would exempt from disclosure the GPS coordinates of farms as well as basic contact information for owners and operators of farms and food processing facilities. Such entities are corporations, although Sen. Grassley and others are arguing that these locations are both businesses and individual residences, thus they deserve special… -
Successful fight to stop farm bill secrecy — for now
24 May 2013 | 8:25 amSenator Patrick Leahy and open government groups have stopped at least for now the Grassley amendment that would bar disclosure of basic phone directory information for owners and operators of livestock and poultry processing facilities and farms. We explained our concerns about the provision quickly, other groups weighed in as well, and Senator Leahy’s worked diligently to explain the ramifications of this seeming milquetoast provision to his colleagues, and it became clearer that the proposal had problems. We appreciate the delay to afford open government groups the opportunity to… -
Livestock owners’ “phone directory” info should not be covered with blanket of secrecy
23 May 2013 | 7:07 am(Updated 5/23/13 at 1:18pm) Corrected 5/23/13 at 1:30pm The full Senate is taking up the farm bill (S. 954), and one amendment three amendments (Amendment 970, 1011 and 1097) from Senator Charles Grassley contain nearly identical language that would eliminate basic “phone directory” information from disclosure, including the name, address, contact info (including email address), GPS coordinates and other identifying information of livestock owners and operators. They claim it’s a defense against domestic terrorism. The EPA in the last few weeks released such information under FOIA to… -
CBO releases cost estimate on FOIA bill, but doesn’t address savings
23 May 2013 | 6:12 amThe CBO score is out on the FOIA reform bill and it estimates the bill would add $20 million over 5 years in federal expenses. It’s a frustrating analysis because it does not reflect any savings from making FOIA processing more efficient by, e.g., using a shared FOIA processing service such as FOIAonline. Such problems are typical with CBO cost estimates, and traditionally it is very difficult to get CBO to adjust their scores. Congress will have to find savings of at least equal to the net cost from the legislation to meet pay-as-you-go requirements before the bill could be approved. … -
SGI Statement on the Justice Department obtaining AP phone records
15 May 2013 | 8:18 amThe action of the U.S. Department of Justice is an affront to the relationship between the government and news media that our nation’s founders established over two centuries ago. Journalists experienced in reporting on global affairs and national security respect the government’s need to keep information confidential to protect national security and carefully consider the government’s concerns when reporting on such matters. Last year Congress rejected a package of changes from the Senate Intelligence Committee that would have redefined the relationship between the government and…
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FOI Oklahoma
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Police dash cam video, audio recordings of arrests are public record, Okla. Court of Civil Appeals rules
31 May 2013 | 1:04 pmA police dash cam video of a DUI arrest contains facts concerning the arrest and therefore is public under the state Open Records Act, a three-judge panel of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled 2-1 Friday. In overturning a Rogers County trial judge, the majority relied upon a 2004 state Supreme Court ruling that Department of Public Safety recordings of administrative hearings concerning revocation of drivers' licenses are public. "If an Implied Consent hearing is considered 'facts concerning the arrest,' then surely the video and/or audio recording of the actual arrest… -
OCU fails to comply with Clery Act requirements
22 May 2013 | 9:50 amOklahoma City University failed to make its updated crime log publicly available in recent months despite being required by federal law to do so, campus journalists reported recently. OCU officials also refused to provide archived crime logs promptly and failed to publish up-to-date annual crime statistics by the required deadline, reported MediaOCU.com. The U.S. Department of Education office that investigates Clery Act violations has been sent the students' articles. Schools can be fined up to $35,000 for each infraction of the Clery Act. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of… -
Tulsa mayoral candidate won't sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge
15 May 2013 | 2:46 pmKathy Taylor won't sign a pledge promising voters that she will comply with the state's open government laws if elected to her old job as Tulsa mayor. Taylor and her two opponents, Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. and former City Councilman Bill Christiansen, were sent letters Monday asking them to sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge as they campaign for Tulsa's first non-partisan mayoral primary on June 11. Bartlett and Christiansen haven't responded to the request. Both men signed the pledge when they ran for offices in 2009: Bartlett for mayor, and Christiansen for re-election… -
Student journalist sues OU for access to parking ticket information
14 May 2013 | 11:22 amThe University of Oklahoma's claim that parking tickets issued to students are private educational records is being challenged in court by a former online editor for The Oklahoma Daily. Joey Stipek is asking a Cleveland County judge to order OU officials to release all parking citations issued by the university. Stipek's lawsuit, filed Friday, stems from OU's refusal to release electronic copies of parking citations issued to students in the spring 2012 semester. OU's open records officer, Rachel McCombs, claimed the information is confidential under the federal Family… -
Re-elected incumbent, two other Stillwater candidates pledged to comply with open government laws
9 May 2013 | 2:34 pmStillwater City Council incumbent Joe Weaver had signed FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge before his re-election in early April. Nine pledge-signers, including Weaver, were elected in municipal elections on April 2. Weaver, OSU's administration & finance vice president, promised that he and the Stillwater city government "will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of Oklahoma's Open Meeting and Open Records laws." Weaver also pledged "to support at every opportunity the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent…
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FOI Oklahoma
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Police dash cam video, audio recordings of arrests are public record, Okla. Court of Civil Appeals rules
31 May 2013 | 1:04 pmA police dash cam video of a DUI arrest contains facts concerning the arrest and therefore is public under the state Open Records Act, a three-judge panel of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled 2-1 Friday. In overturning a Rogers County trial judge, the majority relied upon a 2004 state Supreme Court ruling that Department of Public Safety recordings of administrative hearings concerning revocation of drivers' licenses are public. "If an Implied Consent hearing is considered 'facts concerning the arrest,' then surely the video and/or audio recording of the actual arrest… -
OCU fails to comply with Clery Act requirements
22 May 2013 | 9:50 amOklahoma City University failed to make its updated crime log publicly available in recent months despite being required by federal law to do so, campus journalists reported recently. OCU officials also refused to provide archived crime logs promptly and failed to publish up-to-date annual crime statistics by the required deadline, reported MediaOCU.com. The U.S. Department of Education office that investigates Clery Act violations has been sent the students' articles. Schools can be fined up to $35,000 for each infraction of the Clery Act. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of… -
Tulsa mayoral candidate won't sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge
15 May 2013 | 2:46 pmKathy Taylor won't sign a pledge promising voters that she will comply with the state's open government laws if elected to her old job as Tulsa mayor. Taylor and her two opponents, Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. and former City Councilman Bill Christiansen, were sent letters Monday asking them to sign FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge as they campaign for Tulsa's first non-partisan mayoral primary on June 11. Bartlett and Christiansen haven't responded to the request. Both men signed the pledge when they ran for offices in 2009: Bartlett for mayor, and Christiansen for re-election… -
Student journalist sues OU for access to parking ticket information
14 May 2013 | 11:22 amThe University of Oklahoma's claim that parking tickets issued to students are private educational records is being challenged in court by a former online editor for The Oklahoma Daily. Joey Stipek is asking a Cleveland County judge to order OU officials to release all parking citations issued by the university. Stipek's lawsuit, filed Friday, stems from OU's refusal to release electronic copies of parking citations issued to students in the spring 2012 semester. OU's open records officer, Rachel McCombs, claimed the information is confidential under the federal Family… -
Re-elected incumbent, two other Stillwater candidates pledged to comply with open government laws
9 May 2013 | 2:34 pmStillwater City Council incumbent Joe Weaver had signed FOI Oklahoma's Open Government Pledge before his re-election in early April. Nine pledge-signers, including Weaver, were elected in municipal elections on April 2. Weaver, OSU's administration & finance vice president, promised that he and the Stillwater city government "will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of Oklahoma's Open Meeting and Open Records laws." Weaver also pledged "to support at every opportunity the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent…
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Clicks4info
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Justice Takes Precedence Over Love for Son
18 Jun 2013 | 11:15 amA case of theft was brought to the court of Sessions Judge K.M. Sanjivaiya in Kodagil, Madras (now Chennai). The government prosecutor filed a petition calling on the court to transfer the case to another Keep Reading....Related Posts:Some Of My Favorite Shiva Temples In IndiaChange From Lover to Friend but HOW?My favorite Romantic Valentine Quotes – I Love You!Some Original Rules In Basketball By James NaismithList Of Countries According To Their Population -
Want to cook for your girlfriend? Start now!
13 Jun 2013 | 8:09 amCooking for your girlfriend is a great way to show your admiration for her. With a little planning and work, anybody can pull off a considerate, home-cooked dinner. Follow these tips and increase your Keep Reading....Related Posts:My Best 7 Software QuotesVideo Game With Your Girl Friend But How?Some Teasing Quotes From My SideCrazy And Funny Quotes Implement It In Your LifeMy favorite Romantic Valentine Quotes – I Love You! -
Wife and Husband vs House Work
5 Jun 2013 | 9:21 amAs you know that woman plays lots of roles after marriage like wife, mother, sister-in-law etc. In this highly advanced world maximum number of wives are doing the day job of supporting their family, husband. After Keep Reading....Related Posts:HR policy to handle Cupid’s arrow at workplaceChange From Lover to Friend but HOW?Want to cook for your girlfriend? Start now!My Boss – Happy BirthDay To YouIdioms and Sayings- Meanings of common sayings –… -
Change From Lover to Friend but HOW?
15 Mar 2013 | 9:31 amFinally you have broken up with your love and made him/her as ex and do you think it is impossible to stay be friends with your ex? answer is "YES" as per my view it is very easy to do and everybody Keep Reading....Related Posts:My Friend I Trust You?Friendship Quotes – The Best Friends and Friendship…Want to cook for your girlfriend? Start now!My favorite Romantic Valentine Quotes – I Love You!Wife and Husband vs House Work -
My favorite Romantic Valentine Quotes – I Love You!
13 Feb 2013 | 6:42 am"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." "Time is Keep Reading....Related Posts:Sad Quotes About LoveMy Best Inspirational And Life QuotesI Love To Do Computer Meditation But Do You?Change From Lover to Friend but HOW?Chocolate within your Relationship!
