OPEN Government Act: Implementation

Now that President Bush signed the OPEN Government Act of 2007 into law, how will federal agencies implement the new reforms?

SGI Applaudes House Oversight of New FOIA Ombudsman Office

The Sunshine in Government Initiative applauds the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives for holding an oversight hearing today on the National Archives' new Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), created by the OPEN Government Act (P.L. 110-175), the most comprehensive reforms of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in a decade.

"Last year, Congress created a place for the public to go for independent, fair assistance in resolving FOIA disputes," said Rick Blum, the coalition's coordinator. "We now know that the House and Senate appropriators support this office, and we're excited this independent office will start working soon. Now the Archives can begin shaping how this office works, using models in the many states that have these offices already in place," Blum said.

"Today's hearing shows Congress wants an independent ombudsman at Archives to start helping the public," Blum said. Blum told the congressional panel that "the media and citizens often run into roadblocks with government agencies, and there is no recourse except an expensive lawsuit. OGIS will provide a new, much-needed alternative to resolve FOIA disputes."

The Sunshine in Government Initiative is a coalition of media groups committed to promoting policies that ensure the government is accessible, accountable and open. Public oversight is the ultimate safeguard of democracy. It is the inalienable right of citizens to examine and judge their government; and that right is served when news media act on behalf of the public to gain access to information.

-30-

SGI Recommends First Steps for FOIA Ombudsman

created at TagCrowd.com

The National Archives and Records Administration should use resources when allocated from Congress for the new Office of Government Information Services to strengthen public trust in federal agencies' responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and cultivate a reputation for fairness in helping resolve disputes over government documents, according to recommendations released today from the Sunshine in Government Initiative. Also, read the press release or a summary of the recommendations.

2008-04-18

Will Justice absorb the independent FOIA ombudsman?

Senate sponsors of the recently enacted FOIA reforms and open government advocates (including SGI) were swift to criticize rumors that the president plans to shift the independent ombudsman functions of the Office of Government Information Services from the National Archives to the Justice Department. Read more in The Secrecy File (Cox News) and The Gate (National Journal). 2008-01-30