- FCC to make media ownership decisions in secret [An Action Alert from the Common Cause] [Posted 10.17.07]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin wants his agency to make crucial decisions about media ownership rules behind closed doors and without public input. Tell your Representative that if the FCC won't listen to the public, Congress should exercise its oversight power.
- Contact Your Senators in Support of Open Access [An Action Alert from the American Library Association and the Alliance for Taxpayer Access] [Posted 10.16.07]
The Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Bill will be voted on by the full Senate during the week of October 15.
Please contact your Senators to remind them of your strong support for public access to publicly funded research and - specifically - ensuring the success of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy by making deposit mandatory for researchers.
Learn more from ATA and read another partner's perspective on the issue.
- Kentucky's Senators Are Holding Up The Presidential Records Bill [An Action Alert from the National History Coalition]
Call Sens. Bunning and McConnell to ask them to allow the presidential records reform bill (H.R. 1255) to come to the Senate floor for a vote.
- Contact Your Senators in Support of Open Access [An Action Alert from the American Library Association] [Posted 9.13.07]
As the U.S. Senate considers Appropriations measures this fall for fiscal year (FY) 2008, please take a moment to remind your Senators of your strong support for public access to publicly funded research and specifically ensuring the success of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy by making deposit mandatory for researchers.
- Stop Unlimited Wiretap Authority [An Action Alert from OMB Watch] [Posted 9.13.07]
On Aug. 6, President Bush signed the Protect America Act of 2007 (PAA), S. 1927, granting the government the authority to wiretap anyone, including U.S. citizens, without any court approval as long as the "target" of the surveillance is located outside the U.S. Let Congress know that the public will not wait until the bill sunsets in six months. Tell Congress the sweeping, unchecked surveillance powers in the Protect America Act must be cut back.
- Who put the hold on bill to ensure timely release of presidential records? [An Action Alert from The National Coalition for History] [Posted 9.7.07]
The National Coalition for History (NCH) has learned that just prior to the Congressional adjournment last month, an anonymous hold was placed by a Republican senator on, the "Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 (H.R. 1255)." Supporters had sought to have the bill considered under the Senate's unanimous consent rule that allows non-controversial bills to be brought up on an expedited basis.
The National Coalition for History is asking you to contact your U.S. Senators to ask them to urge Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to force the Republican senator to lift their hold and allow the presidential records reform bill (H.R. 1255) to come to the Senate floor. All Senate offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202)-224-3121.
- Save the Toxic Release Inventory [An Action Alert from OMB Watch]
Action for individuals: Tell Congress to stop the EPA from rolling back reporting requirements on toxic pollution. Support the Toxic Right to Know Protection Act (S. 595)!
Action for organizations: Organizations are asked to sign onto a letter to the Senate to support S. 595.
- Help Keep The Senate Whistleblower Bill Moving! [An Action Alert from the National Whistleblower Center]
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted on June 13 to approve S.274 and send it to the Senate floor for debate. S.274 is the Senate companion to the House bill H.R. 985. This legislation, if passed, would constitute an important and hard fought victory for Federal employees.
After the vote, committee member Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) placed a hold on the legislation, which, unless lifted by Sen. Coburn, could effectively kill the bill. Take action and tell your Senator and ask her/him to contact Sen. Coburn directly and persuade him to lift the hold he has placed on the bill.
- Sunshine Week Action: Your Right-to-Know
Sunshine Week 2007 is over, but the dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information should not end! Help us continue the dialogue! Send us the top one or two things you would change to improve public access today and help us form a 21st century right to know agenda: Send your one or two ideas to yourRTK@openthegovernment.org
-
Ask Congress to hold whistleblower hearings!
Call members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform! Tell them you want them to hold public hearings into the case of FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds, and the erroneous use of the State Secrets Privilege to shut down all court proceedings in her case.
-
Tell Congress to Investigate the NSA Spying Program [An Action Alert from the Electronic Frontier Foundation]
Over five years since it first began, the NSA's massive domestic spying program remains shrouded in secrecy. Recently, the Bush Administration announced that it has let the shadowy FISA court review the program, but that's not enough -- the President must abide by the law and answer to the traditional court system, Congress, and the American public. Demand immediate Congressional investigations!
-
Tell Us Your FOIA story!
If you've had experience using FOIA, please share it with us! |
Link to OpenTheGovernment.org
Spread the word about the rising tide of government secrecy by adding a link from your website to OpenTheGovernment.org.
