Bush to Ease Public Access to Information [View All]

Bush to Ease Public Access to Information

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer
14 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The White House is issuing a new policy easing public access to government information in response to complaints by news organizations that too much is withheld under the landmark disclosure law.


President Bush was expected to sign an executive order later Wednesday to improve public disclosure under the federal Freedom of Information Act, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

The policy change requires each federal agency to designate a senior official as the chief FOIA officer, who must take a close look at the agency's FOIA programs and come up with a plan to improve them. The agencies are directed to make their FOIA processes "citizen-centered and goal oriented," McClellan said.

"What this executive order will do is improve the disclosure of information to the general public," McClellan said. "The Freedom of Information Act has been an important way for people to obtain information about their government."


more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_foia_2



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