Spying Without Oversight is a Compromise?
May 19, 2011 by Gavin Baker
Congressional leaders have agreed to extend key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act until June 2015, according to reports today. The extension will not include reforms.
read in fullHouse Panel Advances Patriot Act Extension, Without Reforms
May 13, 2011 by Gavin Baker
The House Judiciary Committee yesterday voted to reauthorize key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. The committee also rejected several proposals to reform the controversial provisions of the intelligence law.
read in fullAdministration Replacing Derided Terror Alert System
Apr 21, 2011 by Gavin Baker
As transparency advocates, we often advocate for government to make more information available to the public. However, sometimes the problem comes when government does make information available – and the information is wrong, confusing, misleading, or manipulative.
read in full
Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Still AWOL
Apr 13, 2011 by Gavin Baker
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) last week urged President Obama to revive the dormant Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by nominating members to fill the board's vacancies.
read in fullWhite House Makes Boneheaded Move in not Proactively Disclosing Transparency Meeting
Mar 31, 2011 by Gary Bass*
Two days ago, I posted a message about my meeting with President Obama to acknowledge his commitment to transparency and to give him an award for that commitment. During that meeting, the president reaffirmed his belief in transparency and demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the issues involved. I left the meeting assured I had an advocate for transparency running the government, even as we talked about ways of strengthening transparency. Yesterday, I learned that the meeting was not listed on his public calendar. There is no good excuse for this.
read in fullA Face-to-Face with the President about Transparency
Mar 29, 2011 by Gary Bass*
Yesterday, I had a once-in-a-career opportunity – to discuss transparency in the Oval Office with the President of the United States.
read in fullPATRIOT Act Provisions Get Three-Month Extension, But Nearly Lose Funding
Feb 18, 2011 by Gavin Baker
The House voted yesterday to agree to the Senate's three-month extension of expiring PATRIOT Act provisions. The President is expected to sign the bill before Feb. 28, when the current provisions expire.
read in fullCongress Headed for PATRIOT Act Debate This Year
Feb 16, 2011 by Gavin Baker
The Senate voted yesterday to extend expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act until May 27. The House had voted to extend the provisions until December 8; today, the House agreed to consider the Senate version. The House and Senate have to agree before Feb. 28 or the provisions will expire.
read in fullTake Two: PATRIOT Act Extension Passes House
Feb 15, 2011 by Gavin Baker
Last week, the House failed to clear a supermajority vote under special rules to extend expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act. But no surprises this time: the House approved the extension yesterday under normal majority rules.
read in fullSurprise! PATRIOT Act Extension Fails House Vote
Feb 9, 2011 by Gavin Baker
In a surprise move, a vote to extend expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act fell short in the House yesterday. Three controversial provisions of the intelligence law are set to expire Feb. 28.
read in full
