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The MemoryHole has posted logs, in Excel, of FOIA requests received by the Department of Defense for 2001, 2002, and 2003, Jan & Feb. There is no indication as to what percentage of all requests made to DOD this data represents, however, the site will regularly update this resource.
EPIC has launched the Online FOIA Gallery 2003, providing “scanned images of documents obtained by EPIC through the Freedom of Infomation Act, including evidence of the misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, video monitoring of political protesters in Washington, DC, and the names and project titles of the organizations receiving funding from John Poindexter …
A new White Paper from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, released March 14: How the War on Terrorism Affects Access to Information and the Public’s Right to Know Covering the war. Topics covered include: Military tribunals, Access to terrorism & immigration proceedings, Domestic coverage, The USA PATRIOT Act, The reporter’s privilege, Freedom …
Representive Max Coll introduced House Joint Memorial 40 to the New Mexico Legislature, “Affirming Civil Rights and Liberties; Declaring Opposition to Federal Measures that Infringe on Civil Liberties.” The House subsequently issued this substitute bill that includes the following statement: The bill seeks to “direct public libraries to post in a prominent place within the …
From the American Library Association: “On Freedom of Information Day, March 16, the American Library Association urges libraries and librarians across America to join in celebrating the public’s “right to know” by sponsoring activities to educate their communities about the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of information.”
The Kansas House Committee on Federal and State Affairs is considering HB 2420, requiring the installation of Internet filters on all public library computers accessible to those under the age of 18. According to this letter to the committee from the state’s budget director, the yearly cost “would be approximately $573,750 to purchase filtering devices …
On March 12, Senator Patrick Leahy(D-VT), joined by Senators Levin (D-MI), Jeffords (I-VT), Lieberman (D-CT) and Byrd (D-WV), introduced new legislation, S. 609, the Restoration of Freedom of Information Act (“Restore FOIA”). See Leahy’s statement here. See Levin’s statement here. See also this Letter to Senate leaders on the Restoration of Freedom of Information Act …
According to this Washington Post article, Seek and Ye Shall Not Find, add another government document to the “disappeared” list as a result of the administration’s paperwork reduction policy. The OMB will not publish the detailed and comprehensive annual report, Budget Information for States (BIS) in 2004 and perhaps thereafter as well. The current report …
The Public Library of Science “is working to establish online public libraries of science that will archive and freely distribute the complete contents of every published scientific article.” For more information, see this article, Will Walls Come Tumbling Down? (free registration req’d).
From OMB Watch, this commentary on the ramifications of public access to government documents in light of the February 7, 2003 announcement by the GAO that it would not pursue an appeal in Walker v. Cheney, the case to “obtain information from the National Energy Policy Development Group, August 18, 2001.”
From OMB Watch: “In an effort to encourage use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access information, Illinois State Reps. Barbara Flynn Currie and Mary K. OBrien have introduced House Bill 438 to the Illinois state legislature. The bill would provide reimbursement for court costs and attorney fees for individuals who are successful …
Commissioned by the Library of Congress, a terrific new site called PoliticalWeb.info that provides access to the largest and most comprehensive digital collection of resources ever published on the U.S. campaign and election process. See the press release about last week’s launch of the site here. Among the resources available are a chart indicating the …
