Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Tuesday, September 14, 2004

"An unparalleled assault on the principle of open government"

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has released a comprehensive report, Secrecy in the Bush Administration.. The report has three parts, (1) Laws that Provide Public Access to Federal Record, (2) Laws that Restrict Access to Public Records, and (3) Congressional Access to Information. Excerpt: "This review of the nation's open government laws reveals that the Bush Administration has systematically sought to limit disclosure of government records while expanding its authority to operate in secret. Through legislative changes, implementing regulations, and administrative practices, the Administration has undermined the laws that make the federal government more transparent to its citizens, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidential Records Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. At the same time, the Administration has expanded the reach of the laws authorizing the Administration to classify documents and to act without public or congressional oversight. Individually, some of the changes implemented by the Bush Administration may have limited impact. Taken together, however, the Administration's actions represent an unparalleled assault on the principle of open and accountable government."