Two senators this week proposed bipartisan legislation that would help ensure greater access to government records, adding further momentum to recent efforts to update Freedom of Information Act regulations. The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), would restrict one of the most commonly used and contentious exemptions to the law and mandate a “presumption of openness” for agencies […]
Senators introduce bipartisan FOIA amendment – Reporters Committee
Two senators crossed party lines in support of legislation that would strengthen the current Freedom of Information Act and diminish agencies’ excuses for withholding documents. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.) introduced the bill June 24 after the Senate Judiciary Committee held a meeting in March to discuss changes to the FOIA. “The […]
Another break-through ruling: Divided Supreme Court takes Bainter redistricting appeal – Miami Herald
The unprecedented rulings keep on coming. A divided Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the question of whether 537 pages of documents of political consultant Pat Bainter should have been introduced in a lawsuit by a coalition of voters groups challenging the state’s congressional redistricting maps. In a 5-2 decision, the court said […]