RE: FOIA -- "Thank you again for helping me..." - U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

[Breeze54]

From: Patrick Leahy <[e-mail]> [e-mail]

Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 2:46 PM

Subject: Over 7,000 e-mails later...

Dear Breeze,

Our efforts paid off last Friday, when the Senate unanimously approved my bipartisan legislation --
the OPEN Government Act -- to update the Freedom of Information Act FOIA and make government
more transparent.

By sending over 7,000 e-mails to 86 Senators in support of the OPEN Government Act to update FOIA,
the Leahy for Vermont online community sent a clear message to my colleagues that open government
and the public's right to know are American values that transcend party lines.

This pressure ensured the passage of a strong bill that will improve the FOIA process by:

Imposing meaningful deadlines on agencies handling information requests;

Establishing a FOIA hotline;

Bringing government records held by private contractors into full public view;

Creating a FOIA Ombudsman to provide an alternative to costly litigation between FOIA requestors and federal agencies;

and

Allowing federal agencies to waive FOIA fees for freelance journalists and bloggers.


The House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier this year, so I hope it will promptly
approve the Senate bill and send it to the President to sign into law.

Thank you again for helping me move this important legislation one step closer to reality!

Sincerely,


Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator

Visit LeahyForVermont.com | Contribute Today

Paid for by Leahy for U.S. Senator Committee, Inc.
PO Box 1042
Montpelier, VT 05601

"This pressure ensured the passage of a strong bill..."

Whomever said that e-mails and petitions are useless? You were wrong!!

[truedelphi]

1. An important tidbit about your ability to do a Freedom of Information Act

To my knowledge, There is no one form for such a thing.

Basically, you determine what it is that you would care to have investigated or
revealed to you.

you create, using whatever letterhead you would normally use, a normal letter, with the date, your address and other contact info.

You head the letter "Freedom of Information" and then also a designation. In my case, I have asked for lists of employees of County Government agencies (usually in connection to the Registrar of Voters - so my designation is "Records of names of Employees of Registrar of Voters' Office, County of _____"

In the above case, I address it to the person currently heading up the County as the Registrar of Voters.

There may be a nominal fee - but it should not be excessive. I would think 50 cents a page to be a but high, but have been charged that much.

Carol

[Breeze54]

2. Thanks for the info! I've never made

any requests myself but I have read about how difficult it had become.

Even .50 cents a page can be expensive! Especially for freelancers and bloggers.

I support the publics right and freedom to know!

;)

[truedelphi]

3. You think that's expensive!!

The Marin County Registrar of Voters wants candidates who have lost elections (some by margin points of .5%) to pay $ 1,50 for every vote in the recount!!

$ 161,000 for recounting 102,100 votes!! For a local position that offers no salary!!

[Breeze54]

4. I know!! I've read about that concerning other election recounts!

It's absurd and outrageous, in my book!!

I was required to pay a dollar a page to get a copy of my divorce decree!!

A frigging $1.00 a page and I was then, a single parent.

I couldn't afford that. Pissed me off royally!

I even offered to supply my own paper!! :P

[creeksneakers2]

5. Leahy is the best

Its great to hear that letters and E-mails made a difference.