OpenTheGovernment.org and Coalition Partners Raise Issues and Make Recommendations for High Value Datasets on Data.gov [.pdf] [2.3.10]
In response to the datasets submitted by agencies in order to meet their obligation under the Open Government Directive to post three high value datasets to Data.gov by January 22, OpenTheGovernment.org and coalition partners wrote a letter to the Federal Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra, to raise concerns with the datasets, and make suggestions for improving their usefulness.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Effort to Increase FOIA Accountability Via Open Government Dashboard [.pdf] [1.27.10]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined several coalition partners in sending a letter urging the Administration to include a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) component as part of the White House's Open Government Dashboard planned to launch on February 6. Including information about agency FOIA performance would send a signal to agencies that they are to be held accountable for reducing FOIA backlogs, as well as implementing the presumption in favor of disclosure.

OpenTheGovernment.org and Coalition Partners Send DOJ Recommendations for Improving FOIA Guidelines Compliance [.pdf] [1.25.10]
To improve FOIA processing and agency compliance with Attorney General Holder's FOIA guidance, OpenTheGovernment.org and several coalition partners sent several specific recommendations to the Department of Justice.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Effort to Protect Whisteleblowers in Healthcare Reform Bill [.pdf] [1.19.10]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and several other coalition partners in sending a letter and memo to the Senate urging they approve whistleblower protections covering all titles of the healthcare reform bill. Under the approved Senate agreement, whistleblower protections would only cover basic hospital care. Through the help of whistleblowers, the federal government identifies billions of dollars in health care fraud, and would recover more dollars from wrongdoers if whistleblower protections were extended to include a wide range of health care activities, including preventive services, prescriptions, innovative treatments, and access to health care.

Over 80 Organizations and Advocates Join OpenTheGovernment.org to Thank Senator Leahy [.pdf] [9.30.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org organized a letter from over 80 organizations and individuals to thank Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for his tireless commitment to protecting and advancing government transparency through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Organizations Urge Intelligence Committees Strike FOIA Exemption from Reauthorization Bill [.pdf] [9.1.09]
On September 1, ten organizations concerned with government openness and accountability, civil liberties, and privacy wrote to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to urge they strike the provision in the 2010 Intelligence Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2701/S.1494) that would exempt terrorist identity information (TII) from the Freedom of Information Act.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Seek Input on Revision to Classification Policy [.pdf] [8.1.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org, several coalition partners, and other open government advocates, sent a letter to the National Security Advisor asking 6hat the public be given the opportunity to comment on the exact revision language of the Executive Order on classification prior its presentation to the President for final consideration. The opportunity to comment on how public input is finally translated in to policy is the true measure of the transparency, participation,and collaboration promised by the President.

Our request was denied. A September 2nd letter from General Jones states that they "believe it is essential to preserve the confidentiality of the President's deliberative process regarding these complex issues that stem from the President's constitutional authority to protect the national security."
Read the letter. page 1 and page 2.

Advocates Ask OPM to Revise Report on FOIA Personnel Policies [.pdf] [6.3.09]
In December 2008, as required by the OPEN Government Act, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a report regarding personnel policies for FOIA professionals. Over 20 organizations and open government advocates joined OpenTheGovernment.org and the National Security Archive in requesting OPM reconsider the report in light of the new administration's commitment to transparency.
For more information on the topic, read OPM's Report and the response from the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP).

Advocates Call for Open Process for the Open Government Directive [.pdf] [5.18.09]
More than 60 open government organizations and advocates signed onto a letter organized by OpenTheGovernment.org and OMB Watch calling on the Obama administration to announce a formal process for public input on developing the Open Government Directive, and to make all comments received while developing the recommendations publicly available.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Urge Senate to Open CRS Reports [.pdf] [5.14.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) were joined by over 40 open government advocates in asking the Senate Rules Committee to hold public hearings on open government issues and to mark-up and pass S.R. 118, a resolution that would improve public access to reports by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). OpenTheGovernment.org's report with CDT, " Show Us the Data: Most Wanted Federal Documents" identified CRS reports as the number one most desired government document by the public.

OpenTheGovernment.org and Coalition Partners: Restore Measure of Transparency to the White House [.pdf] [5.14.09]
Several coalition partners joined OpenTheGovernment.org on a letter asking the Obama Administration to treat the White House's Office of Administration (OA) as an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the interest of transparency and accountability. The letter, written by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) points out that from its inception in 1977 until August 2007, OA functioned consistently as an agency subject to the FOIA. In August 2007, in the midst of litigating a FOIA request brought by CREW for records related to OA's discovery that millions of e-mail messages were missing from White House servers, the Bush administration abruptly changed course and declared OA is not an agency and therefore need not comply with CREW's or any other information requests under the FOIA.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Respond to NARA on Alternative Models for Presidential Libraries [.pdf] [4.17.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org was joined by 16 openness and good government advocates, including several coalition partners, in a letter in response to a recent request for input (RFI) on alternative models for Presidential libraries from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The letter asks NARA to take full account of the effect any alternative model may have on the public's ability to gain access to important historical documents and on NARA's obligation to provide the public with timely access to important historical documents.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Coalition Partners in Urging President Obama to Fulfill Promises, Protect Whistleblowers [.pdf] [2.24.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined several coalition partners in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to fulfill his campaign and transition policy commitments to strengthen whistleblower rights to effectively fight waste, fraud and abuse in unprecedented government spending. The letter was organized by the Make it Safe Coalition (MISC).

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Urge Congress to Put Spending Bills Online before Voting [.pdf] [2.24.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org was joined by more than 20 openness and good government advocates, including several coalition partners, in sending a letter to the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee urging them to place all upcoming spending bills online, in a usable (preferably machine-readable), format. The letter notes the public can be confident Members of Congress are being good stewards of government programs and taxpayer funds only if spending bills are developed in as transparent a way as possible and and each spending bill is posted online at least 72 hours before it is brought up for consideration.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners: Whistleblower Protections Belong in Stimulus Package [.pdf] [2.3.09]
In response to an editorial in the Washington Post, OpenTheGovernment.org joined several coalition partners in releasing an open letter arguing whistleblower protections for federal employees that help eliminate waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars are rightfully attached to the massive economic stimulus package passed by the House and should be included in the final bill sent to the President's desk. The stimulus bill authorizes the expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars; as taxpayers, we need the best oversight possible. Whistleblower protections have been passed in regular order by both the House and the Senate in past sessions and are well-vetted by the public. It's time to end the culture of secrecy and guarantee that the federal workforce has our support in making sure our stimulus dollars are spent honestly and effectively.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Join the Government Accountability Project in Urging Protection of Bailout Whistleblowers [.pdf] [1.23.09]
OpenTheGovernment.org and several coalition partners signed on to a letter by the the Government Accountability Project (GAP) urging the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) to protect whistleblowers that expose waste, fraud and abuse during the IG audits.

Over 75 Organizations Join OpenTheGovernment.org and the National Taxpayers Union to Demand Bailout Transparency [.pdf] [12.8.08]
78 good government advocates joined OpenTheGovernment.org and the National Taxpayers Union in sending a letter urging Congress to improve oversight and transparency of the financial bailout. Any credible solution to today's economic crisis must address one of the crisis' fundamental causes - corruption and other abuses of power sustained by secrecy. The signatories ask that Congress use its oversight authority to make the financial bailout more accountable to the American public, and its legislative authority to make it more transparent. See our press release here.

Over 50 Organizations and Advocates Join OpenTheGovernment.org in Opposing Secrecy in Financial Industry Bailout Plan [.pdf] [9.23.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org and over 50 open government organizations and advocates wrote to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Finacial Services to oppose provisions of the financial industry bail out plan that would make any decisions by the Secretary of the Treasury non-reviewable by courts or administrative agencies. Further, public contracts associated with the proposal could be created outside of existing laws normally governing such actions. See the House and Senate letters.

OpenTheGovernment.org and 24 Organizations Write to Support Passage of H.R. 5811, the Electronic Message Preservation Act [.pdf] [7.10.08]
A coalition of 23 organizations joined OpenTheGovernment.org on a letter to Representative Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, supporting passage of H.R. 5811, the Electronic Message Preservation Act. The bill directs the Archivist of the United States to establish standards for the capture, management, and preservation of White House e-mails and other electronic communications and to issue regulations requiring agencies to preserve electronic communications in an electronic format.

OpenTheGovernment.org and 29 open government advocates endorse S. 2746, the OPEN FOIA Act [.pdf] [7.10.08]
Twenty-nine organizations and open government advocates(including several coalition partners) joined OpenTheGovernment.org on a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary endorsing S. 2746, the OPEN FOIA Act. The bill will give members of the public and open government advocates the tools they need to find, analyze and challenge FOIA exemptions that are tucked into inconspicuous provisions buried deep in proposed legislation.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Effort to Bolster Government Whistleblowers' Rights [.pdf] [6.04.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org signed a letter from the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and 110 other organizations in support of strong whistleblower rights for government employees. The letter calls on key members of Congress to protect crucial whistleblower protections during the reconciliation of H.R. 985 and S. 274, and urges the preservation of essential language to ensure existing and proposed protections are meaningful. See also our Action Alert.

19 Groups Join OpenTheGovernment.org in Urging Continuation of Snapshots of Federal Web Sites [.pdf] [4.29.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org and 19 organizations wrote to the Archivist of the United States to protest the National Archives' decision to not capture and preserve a "snapshot" of government web pages at the end of the current Administration. The groups asked the Archivist to rescind the decision.

OpenTheGovernment.org and 28 Groups Express Support for National Security Letters Reform Act [.pdf] [4.22.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined 28 other organizations in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing support for the National Security Letters Reform Act (S. 2088) and asking that the Judiciary Committee consider this legislation and report it favorably as soon as is practical. The bill includes a provision requiring the Attorney General to issue minimization procedures for information obtained through NSLs, and to create a system to track their use. The proposed legislation takes significant steps toward achieving a balance between privacy and national security concerns.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Effort to Craft Whistleblower Protections for Scientists [.pdf] [3.18.08]
Over fifty signatories, including OpenTheGovernment.org, wrote to Congress in support of whistleblower protections for scientists when the Senate takes up H.R. 985. The letter urges Senators to preserve language defending federal scientists against retaliation for exposing suppression and distortion of their work.

OpenTheGovernment.org, Allies write House: Defend America by Defending the Law [.pdf] [3.5.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined 42 signatories in urging Congress to take the time to craft a bill that gives the intelligence community only the narrow authority it needs to track terrorists abroad while protecting the privacy of people in the United States.

Letter to Senate supporting S. 2663 [.pdf] [2.26.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org joined 45 groups in signing a letter to the Senate in support of S. 2663, legislation to extend whistleblower protection to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Letter to Congressional Appropriators re: OPEN Government Act/OGIS [.pdf] [2.6.08]
OpenTheGovernment.org, along with forty-two other organizations, sent a letter to congressional appropriators (same text sent to House, Senate) to urge them to keep the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). President Bush's proposed budget attempts to shift the Office to DOJ and repeal part of the OPEN Government Act, which he signed on December 31, 2007, updating FOIA for the first time since 1996.

Letter to Smithsonian Board of Regents [.pdf] [1.17.08] [see also the accompanying memo]
OpenTheGovernment.org, along with thirty other organizations, wrote to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, urging that they rescind a recently-adopted policy, Directive 807, that would permit the Smithsonian Institution to withhold from the public information regarding the finances and activities of the Institution.

OpenTheGovernment.org Calls On Senators To Co-Sponsor S.886 [.pdf] [12.7.07]
OpenTheGovernment.org, along with thirty signatories, sent a joint letter to urge senators running for president to co-sponsor S. 886, The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 (if they haven't already).

Groups write to Senators to oppose secrecy provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill [.pdf] [11.6.07]
Twenty-eight groups wrote to Senators to express opposition to the non-disclosure provisions (Sec. 10305 of the Livestock Title) in the 2007 Farm Bill approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on October 25, 2007. The language would create an unnecessary bar to public disclosure and use or publication of information related to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Good Government Coalition and Consumer Groups Support Whistleblower Rights / Product Safety Reform [.pdf] [10.29.07]
Forty-two organizations wrote Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to applaud the Committee's leadership toward product safety reform by including whistleblower protection as a primary law enforcement safeguard in S. 2045, the (Consumer Product Safety Commission) CPSC Reform Act of 2007.

Letter to Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi to request public hearings on FISA [.pdf] [9.25.07 and 10.4.07]
OpenTheGovernment.org and several coalition partners signed on to a letter to Sen. Harry Reid to ask him to insist on public hearings on any proposed legislation to alter the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before either the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence or the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on such legislation.

Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid on Protect America Act of 2007 [.pdf] [9.4.07]
OpenTheGovernment.org signed on to a letter sharing concerns over the Protect America Act of 2007 and sharing basic principles that must be respected to ensure that U.S. persons' electronic communications are protected from unwarranted government intrusion.

Letter to Senator Reid on need to pass bipartisan whistleblower rights legislation [.pdf] [7.30.07]
Forty-six good government groups signed onto a letter, organized by the Government Accountability Project (GAP), to encourage Senator Reid to help pass the Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 274), which has been held up in the Senate.

Letter to Sens. Reid and McConnell to support OPEN Govt Act [.pdf] [5.17.07]
101 signatories, including partners of OpenTheGovernment.org and others, sent a letter to Senator Reid and Senator McConnell urging them to support the OPEN Government Act (S.849) and bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Letter to urge Republicans to support the OPEN Government Act [.pdf] [5.2.07]
OpenTheGovernment.org sent letters on behalf of 39 member organizations to Republican Senators urging them to support the OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S. 849). At the time the letter was sent, only 3 Republicans (Sens. Cornyn, Isakson, and Specter) had signed on as co-sponsors.

Letters to Attorney General Gonzales and Archivist Weinstein regarding preservation of Guantanamo records [.pdf] [4.26.07]
Coalition partners and others sent letters to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein on April 26, regarding an order that purports to transform the requirement that a complete set of the documents and records be maintained into an option. These letters request that the Attorney General and Archivist confirm that a complete set of the records will be maintained under the ordinary federal records laws and urges, in addition, that such records be preserved as permanent historical records.

Letter in support of Senate electronic disclosure [.pdf]
Partners of OpenTheGovernment.org and others sent letters to Sen. Stevens and Sen. McConnell urging them to support S. 223, the "Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act", without amendment on the Senate floor.
Letter to Sen. McConnell.

Letter to Speaker Pelosi [.pdf] [3.28.07]
Seventeen partners in the OpenTheGovernment.org coalition and others sent letters on Wednesday, March 28, to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and to the members of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Rules Committee urging action to ensure no-fee online public access to all CRS (Congressional Research Service) reports.