OMB Watch Updates Chemical Security Database, Enhancing Public's Right to Know about Potential Risks
Oct 29, 2009 by Brian Gumm
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2009—On Oct. 29, OMB Watch posted updated information about the risks of serious public harm posed by thousands of chemical facilities nationwide. The risk management plans of approximately 14,000 facilities that handle more than the threshold amounts of 140 dangerous chemicals are publicly available through the website of the Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET), at www.rtknet.org/db/rmp.
read in fullHouse Moves to Reduce Risks from Chemical Plants
Oct 28, 2009
On Oct. 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved two pieces of chemical security legislation that encourage plants to switch to safer and more secure technologies. Although the bills still lack crucial accountability measures, they represent a major improvement over the flawed and inadequate temporary security measures currently in place.
read in fullControversial Patriot Act Reauthorization Ready for Senate Floor
Oct 14, 2009
On Oct. 7, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill, the USA Patriot Act Sunset Extension Act of 2009 (S. 1692), to reauthorize the Patriot Act. The bill, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the committee, passed with bipartisan support but has been denounced by civil liberties groups and privacy advocates. A week earlier, the committee voted down another reauthorization bill, the JUSTICE Act (S. 1686), introduced by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), that would have greatly reduced surveillance powers and strengthened civil liberties protections.
read in fullNew Policy Marks First Step in Narrowing State Secrets Privilege
Sep 29, 2009
On Sept. 23, the Justice Department released a new policy on use of the state secrets privilege. The policy, which parallels several related recommendations from the Moving Toward a 21st Century Right-to-Know Agenda, will be implemented on Oct. 1. The long-expected announcement drew mixed reactions from public interest groups, ranging from support to criticism that the policy offers little more than a rehash of the heavily criticized policies of the Bush administration.
read in fullCongress Braces for Patriot Act Battle
Sep 29, 2009
On Sept. 22, Congress began hearings on USA Patriot Act provisions that are set to expire on Dec. 31. Some legislators and the president are seeking to retain controversial portions of the act, albeit in modified form.
read in fullOMB Watch Lauds Obama Administration's Unprecedented Move on State Secrets Policy
Sep 23, 2009
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2009—OMB Watch strongly supports the Obama administration's unprecedented move to create a government-wide policy on use of the state secrets privilege. The policy, issued earlier in the day, is the latest in a series of decisions by the administration to make government more open and accountable.
read in fullSecrecy Report Card Gives Modest Grades to Bush and Obama
Sep 15, 2009
On Sept. 8, OpenTheGovernment.org, a coalition of 70 open government advocates, released its sixth annual Secrecy Report Card. Focusing on 2008, the report card serves primarily as a final assessment of the Bush administration but also addresses early actions of the Obama administration. Overall, the report notes a decrease in secrecy at the end of the Bush years but concludes that greater efforts are needed to increase federal transparency.
read in fullCourt Rules that CIA Committed Fraud in State Secrets Case
Jul 29, 2009
On July 20, a federal district court judge ruled that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) committed fraud while attempting to get a fifteen-year-old case dismissed on state secrets grounds.
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OMB Watch Submits Recommendations on Handling Sensitive, Unclassified Information
Jul 14, 2009
On July 8, OMB Watch released a report that explores the impact of secrecy labeling practices within the federal government. The report, Controlled Unclassified Information: Recommendations for Information Control Reform, was submitted to the newly formed presidential task force established to review current policies and to reform the overuse of Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) control markings.
read in fullNew Report Shines Light on Secrecy Labeling of Government Information
Jul 8, 2009
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2009—Today, OMB Watch published a report that explores the impacts of secrecy labeling practices within the federal government. The report, Controlled Unclassified Information: Recommendations for Information Control Reform, shines a light on how government withholds unclassified information from the American people and offers recommendations on how to balance the need to protect sensitive materials with the duty to disclose information to the public.
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