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Press Releases

Open Government Advocates Urge the Senate to Improve Public Access to CRS Reports (05/14/2009)

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2009 - Over 40 organizations and advocates concerned with government transparency signed on to a letter asking the Senate Rules Committee to hold public hearings on open government issues and to mark-up and pass a resolution by Senator Lieberman (I-CT), S.R. 118, that would improve public access to reports by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The breadth of organizations supporting the letter, which was organized by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and OpenTheGovernment.org, reflects the importance of public access to CRS reports.

OpenTheGovernment.org Launches BailoutWatch.net (04/20/2009)

WASHINGTON, April 20 - Do you want to know what the government and the financial sector are doing with your tax dollars in the bailout? Well, now you can easily find out. OpenTheGovernment.org announces the launch of BailoutWatch.net, on behalf of the Bailout Watch project, to help the public track and analyze the latest developments in the federal government's massive bailout of financial institutions and other businesses deemed "too big to fail."

Fourth Annual National Event Will Kick Off National Dialogue on Open Government (03/17/2009)

WASHINGTON - On Friday, March 20th from 1 - 2:30 eastern, OpenTheGovernment.org will host and webcast a discussion on open government in theory and in practice from the Center for American Progress. Join Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org and distinguished open government experts to discuss the development and implementation of President Obama's Open Government Directive and initiatives to advance economic transparency.

Groups Launch Project in Search of the Government's Most Wanted Documents (02/13/2009)

Washington, D.C. - The Center for Democracy & Technology and OpenTheGovernment.org today announced the launch of Show Us The Data: The Most Wanted Government Documents, a project aimed at identifying vital government information and encouraging the federal government to put it within easy reach of the public.

OpenTheGovernment.org: Supreme Court View of Faulty Police Records is "Unreasonable" (01/14/2009)

Press Release
Contact: Amy Fuller or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736

Supreme Court View of Faulty Police Records is "Unreasonable"

WASHINGTON, January 14, 2008 - In response to the recent 5-4 Supreme Court opinion in Herring v United States, OpenTheGovernment.org expresses disappointment that the majority failed to ensure government's responsibility for the accuracy of police databases.

Good Government Advocates Ask for Transparency and Oversight of Bailout (12/09/2008)

Press Release
Contact: Amy Fuller or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736

Good Government Advocates Ask for Transparency and Oversight of Bailout

WASHINGTON, December 8, 2008 - In light of the government's commitment of an estimated $8.5 trillion of taxpayer money to financial rescue initiatives with no transparency and little oversight, OpenTheGovernment.org and the National Taxpayers Union have organized a coalition of over 70 groups in asking that Congress put the public interest first.

Secrecy Report Card 2008: Continued Expansion of Federal Government Secrecy Seen in 2007 (12/09/2008)

Press Release
Contact: Amy Fuller or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736

Report: Continued Expansion of Federal Government Secrecy Seen in 2007

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2008 - Government secrecy increased across a wide spectrum of indicators in 2007, according to a report released today by a coalition of over 70 open government advocates. At the same time, the 110th Congress has moved toward increasing openness and accountability.

Third Annual National Event Will Explore Executive Branch Secrecy and Tools for Openness (03/03/2008)

Contact: Chris Green or Patrice McDermott, (202) 332-6736
info at openthegovernment.org

Media Advisory

Join Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org and two panels of experts in a national dialogue addressing issues of access to government information, including executive branch power and secrecy, congressional rights and responsibilities, and the role of the public and non-profit sector. The event will begin with a lively discussion of the issues and end with ideas for action and new and exciting ways to find and use government information. Two opportunities for questions and answers will be provided.

Secrecy Report Card 2007: Report Finds Expanded Federal Government Secrecy in 2006 (08/31/2007)

Contact: Emily Feldman or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736
info@openthegovernment.org
View the Secrecy Report Card 2007

WASHINGTON, Sep. 1 -- Government secrecy saw further expansion last year despite growing public concern, according to a report released today by a coalition of open government advocates. The Secrecy Report Card, produced annually by OpenTheGovernment.org in order to identify trends in public access to information, found a troubling lack of transparency in military procurement, assertions of executive privilege, and expansion of "sensitive" categories of information, among other areas.

Open Government Advocates Overcome "Gonzales Hold" on FOIA Bill; OPEN Government Act Passes Senate (08/06/2007)

Contact: Patrice McDermott or Emily Feldman
Organization: OpenTheGovernment.org
Phone Number: (202) 332-6736
Email: info@openthegovernment.org

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2007 -- The United States Senate today joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act and address some of the common problems the public encounters when trying to hold the government accountable. The bill passed the Senate unanimously just before the August congressional recess.

Government Secrecy on the Rise: New Book Updates 1987 Report on Government Secrecy (07/12/2007)

Contact: Drew Courtney (PFAW Foundation) (202) 467-4999 media@pfaw.org
Patrice McDermott (OpenTheGovernment.org) (202) 332-6736 info@openthegovernment.org
View the report

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 -- The United States has faced an unprecedented rise in government secrecy over the last six years, according to a report released today by OpenTheGovernment.org and People For the American Way Foundation. Government Secrecy: Decisions Without Democracy 2007 documents how executive power has dramatically expanded while executive accountability has diminished.

Groups Urge Senate to Enact FOIA Reform on the Law's 41st Birthday (07/03/2007)

Contact: Patrice McDermott, OpenTheGovernment.org, (202) 332-6736
Meredith Fuchs, National Security Archive, (202) 994-7000

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2007 -- As the 41st birthday of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) approaches, a coalition of groups urged the U.S. Congress to pass a bill - currently locked behind a closed door - that would reform the FOIA and make it work better for the public. The OPEN Government Act (S. 849) would enact common-sense reforms to the FOIA and put in place incentives for federal agencies to process FOIA requests from the public in a timely manner.

DVD on Second Sunshine Week Government Secrecy Conference Released (05/31/2007)

Contact: Patrice McDermott or Emily Feldman
Organization: OpenTheGovernment.org
Phone Number: (202) 332-6736
Email: info@openthegovernment.org

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2007 -- A DVD recording of a Sunshine Week conference examining access to government information and government secrecy is now available for purchase on the Special Libraries Association (SLA) website for the cost of $25 (USD). Titled, "Closed Doors; Open Democracies? A Sunshine Week National Dialogue On Open Government & Secrecy," the DVD is of the second national government secrecy conference held during Sunshine Week and co-sponsored by organizations concerned with open government.

101 Organizations Urge Bringing OPEN Government Act to Senate Floor (05/17/2007)

Contact: Patrice McDermott, (202) 332-6736

May 17, 2007 - Today, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell received a letter signed by 101 organizations urging them to support the OPEN Government Act (S.849) - which would institute much needed reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - and bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org said, "Reform of the Freedom of Information Act is long overdue and much needed. Agencies are needlessly delaying public access to the records of our government and have no incentives to change their practices. This legislation, which has already passed in the House, would bring more sunlight and more accountability to the process."

The OPEN Government Act has been reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably without any amendments.

The letter can be found at http://www.openthegovernment.org/otg/OPENgovt_Senators

New flash animation: Democracy in Jeopardy! (04/18/2007)

Contact: Patrice McDermott or Emily Feldman
Organization: OpenTheGovernment.org
Phone Number: (202) 332-6736
Email: info@openthegovernment.org
Watch the flash animation

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2007 -- OpenTheGovernment.org invites you to come join James Madison, Ms. Public, and George W. Bush in a flash video game show - Democracy in Jeopardy! - about government openness and secrecy. The flash video can be viewed at www.openthegovernment.org -- with links provided for ways to take action to fight back against secrecy and promote openness.

Second Annual National Event Will Explore Government Secrecy and Openness (03/21/2007)

Contact: Emily Feldman or Patrice McDermott, (202) 332-6736

Closed Doors; Open Democracies? A national dialogue with government openness experts

Join Ira Flatow, host and executive producer of NPR's Science Friday, and two panels of government and other experts in a national dialogue addressing issues of access to government information, including the impact of government suppression and manipulation of scientific information on public health and safety - and accountability at the federal and the state and local levels. The event will begin with a lively discussion of the issues and end with ideas for action

DVD on Government Secrecy Conference Released (09/28/2006)

Contact: Patrice McDermott or Emily Feldman, 202-332-6736

A DVD examining the issues of government secrecy is now available for purchase on the Special Library Association (SLA) website for the cost of $25 (USD). Titled, "Are We Safer in the Dark, A Sunshine Week National Dialogue On Open Government & Secrecy," the DVD is a recording of a national teleconference held during Sunshine Week and produced through a collaboration of national organizations dedicated to open government.

Secrecy Report Card 2006: Report Finds Federal Government Still More Secretive (09/02/2006)

Contact: Emily Feldman or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736
View the Secrecy Report Card

Government secrecy saw further expansion last year despite growing public concern, according to a report released today by a coalition of open government advocates. The Secrecy Report Card, produced annually by OpenTheGovernment.org in order to identify trends in public access to information, found a troubling lack of transparency in military procurement, new private inventions, and the scientific and technical advice that the government receives, among other areas.

Agency Responses to President's Call for FOIA Improvement Do Not Disclose Much, Report Shows (07/03/2006)

Contact: Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736
View the report
July 3, 2006

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of FOIA, members and staff of OpenTheGovernment.org, the Sunshine in Government Initiative (SGI), Coalition of Journalists for Open Government (CJOG), National Security Archive, and other friends of openness in government undertook a collaborative look at a sample of the plans submitted by federal agencies in response to E.O. 13392, "Improving Agency Disclosure of Information," issued on December 14, 2005.

Post Katrina-Related Contracts Online, Groups Tell Bush (12/15/2005)

December 15, 2005 --
Contact: Emily Feldman, 202-332-6736
View the letter

More than 50 organizations, including civil liberties, media, library, and environmental groups, sent a letter to President Bush urging the White House to post all spending documents related to Hurricane Katrina relief and reconstruction spending on the Internet.