RCFP’s Dalglish testifies for SGI about DOL “lock-ups”

A House panel this morning encouraged the Labor Department to abandon its announced changes to the way it releases unemployment data and other market-moving statistics.  Media groups protested almost immediately when the Labor Department announced on April 10th that it would force media groups to rip out equipment from the labor Department’s press room and require reporters to draft stories on government computers as part of wholesale changes intended to prevent early leaks of jobless claims and other economically significant information.

Solar flare reminds us: Sunshine Week’s almost here

Scientists who study the sun note the massive solar flare hitting earth on March 8 is part of the sun’s natural cycle, however we’re pretty certain it’s celebrating Sunshine Week, which starts on Sunday, March 11.

Started by the American Society of News Editors and now coordinated jointly between ASNE and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (both SGI members), Sunshine Week is a celebration encouraging greater public appreciation of open government.

Government transparency is an essential value for democracy, but perhaps more importantly it plays a more practical role ensuring our leaders are doing what they say they will, spurring action to make our nation secure and our communities safer.

The calendar is full of events (the solar flare isn’t one of the scheduled actions) and we’re sure we’ll see some announcements not on the calendar.  Stay tuned.

By the way, don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings Time.  For Sunshine Week, of course.

Sunshine Week 2012

Sunshine Week, the annual celebration of open government, will be held March 11-17, 2012.  The week coincides with the birthday of James Madison (March 16th).

Initiated and sponsored for years by the American Society of News Editors, this year Sunshine Week is a collaboration between ASNE and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

In the past, journalists have conducted audits of FOI laws, policymakers write opinion pieces, editorial cartoonists contribute works for broad distribution, interest groups sponsor programs, and Congress holds a hearing or two to push bills or take stock of where we are with government transparency.

Mining to resolve a dispute, OGIS gets the shaft

CNN’s Anderson Cooper talks a lot about transparency.  He focused on transparency troubles while covering the gulf oil spill.

Watching the Chilean mine rescue unfold, on October 12th Cooper noted that the Chilean government’s rescue operations have been more transparent than similar responses to mining disasters in the U.S.

If the way the Labor Department ignored the FOIA mediator’s office is any gauge, he may have a point.

The SEC-ret of their success?

Last summer, we happened to be looking for some agency success stories about FOIA request backlog reduction, and we thought we’d found one at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Senate to vote today on requiring disclosure in Bloomberg lawsuit

The Senate may vote as early as today to require the Federal Reserve to release information that the Fed had fought in court to protect about short-term loans to banks during the financial crisis.

Bloomberg News had sued the Fed to release this information, and a federal appeals panel ordered disclosure.   As the Reporters Committee notes, The Fed has asked a full appeals panel to hear the case, the last stop before taking the issue to the Supreme Court.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) discussed the idea in a floor speech on May 3, 2010.