...the AP focuses on the results of an examination after they obtained Treasury Dept. records, but when it comes to transparency, the fact that the AP was able to obtain the records at all is perhaps even more important. In obtaining Geithners phone records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the AP got a "behind-the-scenes glimpse at the continued influence of three companies..."
Continue readingYou Gotta Speak the Language
A long time ago, my grandmother-- born and raised in Albany, Georgia-- went to Germany for my brother's wedding. She'd never been outside the country before and was excited about the trip, and of course, her grandson's wedding. While she was there though, she had a bit of a problem communicating-- see, she didn't speak German. Her solution to the problem was instinctive but not logical-- just speak English loudly and slowly. Increase volume until there's understanding. One person she encountered over there responded to her by speaking German loudly and slowly.
Her response:
Continue readingIs FOIA any better under Obama? An anecdote today, data later
Newsweek's Michael Isikoff report on the Obama administration's mixed record on transparency got me to thinking about our own experience with FOIA requests. Isikoff notes,
As a senator, Barack Obama denounced the Bush administration for holding "secret energy meetings" with oil executives at the White House. But last week public-interest groups were dismayed when his own administration rejected a Freedom of Information Act request for Secret Service logs showing the identities of coal executives who had visited the White House to discuss Obama's "clean coal" policies. One reason: the disclosure of such records might impinge on privileged ...Continue reading
Obama Blocks Visitor Log Disclosure
This is pretty disheartening. The Obama administration is continuing to use the same arguments the Bush administration used to block... View Article
Continue readingStill waiting for FOIA reforms to surface
Roger Strother writes at OMB Watch's Fine Print blog about the latest noise coming out of the Office of Information Policy about the "sea change in the way transparency is viewed across the government." That sea change is supposed to lift a lot of FOIA requests that, unlike boats, seem to sink the bottom with incredible rapidity, then burrow down into the muck at the bottom. We've found that the only way to surface those FOIA requests is the application of vigorous effort (including regularly calling FOIA officers to make sure they haven't forgotten us). Waiting--for months ...
Continue readingThoughts on a Lord of Finance’s Schedule
If ever we saw the fruits, and possibilities, of disclosure and transparency, it is in this New York Times profile... View Article
Continue readingEPA Administrator Promises Transparency, Engagement
In an internal memorandum to all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson pronounced a commitment to transparency... View Article
Continue reading13th Annual Webbys
On Tuesday, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 13th annual the Webby Awards,... View Article
Continue readingTransparency 2.0
Nick Troiano at SocialGovernment.com has an interesting and important post about government transparency, the 2.0 version. Nick was reflecting from... View Article
Continue readingShow me THIS data
Derek Willis, with whom I was lucky enough to work with at the Center for Public Integrity, critiques the recent Show Us The Data effort (full disclosure: Sunlight was involved in building the site, and I helped a good deal with the conceptualization). He offers eight solid suggestions for data sets that should be publicly available -- and didn't make the cut for the Show Us The Data site. No arguments here with his wish list, and there's some really good suggestions there.
In defense of Show Us The Data, voting was open to the general public, many of ...
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