Transparency and the Open Government Directive

[IndianaJoe]

Obama’s Open Government Directive:

<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/transparencyandopengovernment/>

OMB’S Open Government Directive to All Agencies:

<http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ogi-directive.pdf>


Problems with the implementation - L.A. Times:

<http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/21/nation/la-na-ticket21-2010mar21>

"One of the exemptions allowed to deny Freedom of Information requests has been used by the Obama administration 70,779 times in its first year; the same exemption was used 47,395 times in Bush's final budget year.

An Associated Press examination of 17 major agencies' handling of FOIA requests found denials 466,872 times, an increase of nearly 50% from the 2008 fiscal year under Bush.

But why make such a big campaign deal over a previous administration's secrecy when you're going to end up being even more secretive?

On March 16 to mark annual Sunshine Week, designed to promote openness in government, Obama applauded himself by issuing a statement:

"As Sunshine Week begins, I want to applaud everyone who has worked to increase transparency in government and recommit my administration to be the most open and transparent ever."

However, a new study out March 15 by George Washington University's National Security Archive finds less than one-third of the 90 federal agencies that process such FOIA requests have made significant changes in their procedures since Obama's 2009 memo.

So, a day later, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel sent out yet another memo. Since the agencies ignored the memo from the president, they'll all snap to when the staffer's note arrives, don't you think?"

[Angry Dragon]

1. Yhe government has not changed

just the head of it. I am very disappointed in Obama...government as usual.

[msongs]

2. obama really seems to enjoy hearing himself -promise stuff - fierce advocate that he is lol nt