Lanny's Story: The Sequel

Back in May 2007 the name Lanny Davis caught my ear, because I have a first cousin named Lanny, and this was only the second male I’d ever heard of with the name.

Lanny Davis is proving to be an effective spokesperson for the Clinton campaign. He was particularly well-armed to ward off the negativity Mika Brzezinski threw at him on today’s “Morning Joe” (MSNBC).

The appearance this morning reminded me to follow up on my May 2007 post on Lanny and the Bush administration’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Read my original post, then hit “backspace” to return here for the follow-up on this important story: LINK

FOLO:

From CAMPUS PROGRESS, Center for American Progress (LINK):

Under The Shroud Of Secrecy
February 7, 2008

Value open government? Like your own privacy? Then do we have two stories for you today.

First Story: In 2004, the 9/11 Commission recommended the establishment of a Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The board would ensure that any laws and policies the White House implemented under the name of national security would, in fact, appropriately protect the privacy and civil liberties of Americans.

The board is vacant. Even as the White House begins its massive push to get even more warrantless wiretapping powers, the privacy oversight board is… vacant.

The terms of the original members expired on January 30, 2008. No new nominations have been chosen to fill the empty spots.

AND THEN SOME …

Second Story: In December, President Bush “reluctantly signed a law” that required better enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act. [Washington Post]

The Freedom of Information Act says we have guaranteed access to public records. The new law says government agencies have 20 days to provide requested information. It also created an ombudsman, working out of the National Archives, who would act as a neutral party and make sure agencies were properly complying with the law and turning over public documents to citizens when asked.

President Bush, in his new budget, now wants to move that ombudsman over to the Justice Department, a move that would in effect kill the position. (The Justice Department acts as an advocate for agencies, helping them when people sue them for information.)

The secrecy-loving White House is not a fan of the Freedom of Information Act. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft went so far as to send a memo to agencies telling them to use all legal means necessary to fight any public document requests.

Why we’re not surprised: In 2000, the federal government spent $452,807 on contracts for paper shredding services. By 2006, that number skyrocketed to $2.9 million. And what the White House couldn’t shred, they stonewalled. Since 1998, the number of exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act cited to support the withholding of information increased 83 percent. Two out of five FOIA requests weren’t even processed by 2006. [USA Spending] [Coalition of Journalists for Open Government]

Tit for tat, White House. If you want to spy on us, we want to see your public files. It’s that simple. –END-

Just a reminder that while we political wonks are focused on this crucial election campaign, over at the Bush White House it’s business as usual.