Proposed amendments to FOIA could improve public access to information.

Evidence

In 1974, when Congress voted to strengthen freedom of information law, President Ford’s advisers Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Antonin Scalia—who was then head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel—argued in favor of a presidential veto. — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 113 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

One means of doing so would be an amendment to FOIA requiring agencies and courts to balance the public’s interest in disclosure against the agency’s interest in secrecy when determining whether requested information falls within one of the act’s exemptions. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 1145 (#expands, via linked claim)

Justice Scalia’s appeal to “institutionalized checks and balances” nonetheless points to an important insight. … The successes of FOIA in calling the GWOT to account were predicated upon and facilitated by institutions beyond the statute itself. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 668 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: FOIA is widely seen as a foundational law for citizens’ information rights. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 298; FOIA has existed for over fifty years and allowed iterative amendments. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 299; Government documents older than fifty years should be fully disclosed. — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 1241 (+8 more)

Related

• In 1974, Congress voted to strengthen FOIA, but faced a veto attempt. (similarity 0.85)
• FOIA’s ideal of transparency has practical implications for government. (similarity 0.84)
• FOIA has existed for over fifty years and allowed iterative amendments. (similarity 0.83)
• Public interest balancing could enhance FOIA’s effectiveness. (similarity 0.83)
• FOIA requires administrative capacity to hold government accountable. (similarity 0.83)
• Recent judicial decisions enable broader application of FOIA exemptions. (similarity 0.81)
• FOIA remains essential for ensuring access to data until open data policies are established. (similarity 0.81)
• FOIA’s effectiveness depends on supportive institutions and practices. (similarity 0.81)
• FOIA’s status affects its effectiveness in promoting transparency. (similarity 0.81)
• FOIA’s future may require shrinking its operational framework. (similarity 0.80)
• The Justice Department has resisted FOIA compliance since its inception. (similarity 0.80)
• In 1975, FOIA significantly increased document declassification. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• In 1974, Congress voted to strengthen FOIA, but faced a veto attempt. #exemplifies (0.80) — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 113
• Public interest balancing could enhance FOIA’s effectiveness. #expands (0.70) — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 1145
• FOIA’s effectiveness depends on supportive institutions and practices. #expands (0.60) — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 668