Press Room

NY Times Letter: Secrecy Goes on, despite 9/11 Access (not published)

Readers of "Families Forced a Rare Look at Government Secrecy" (July 22, 2004) might think the president's thwarted efforts to keep secrets from the 9/11 Commission signal a return to open, accountable government. Nothing could be further from the truth.

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OMB Watch Analysis Finds Bias, Flaws in OMB Year-1 Data Quality Report

(Washington, DC 7/12/04) - OMB Watch released an analysis July 12 that found a report on data quality from the Office of Management and Budget filled with inaccuracies and misleading statements. The OMB recently published the report to inform Congress about the first year of implementing the Information Quality Act, also known as the Data Quality Act. The report provides OMB's perspectives on the first year under the law, as well as the IQA reports submitted to OMB from individual agencies.

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Supreme Court Denies Cheney's Bid to Avoid Discovery in Energy Task Force Decision

While it is disappointing that the Supreme Court declined to take this opportunity to embrace the principle of openness in Cheney v. United States District Court, it is heartening that the Court did not side with the administration, and instead remanded the case to the lower court.

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RTK NET Releases 2002 Toxic Release Inventory Data

The Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET) published the 2002 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data today, providing public access to important Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data on the release and transfer of toxic chemicals in the U.S. The 2002 data shows an overall increase of 5 percent in toxic releases -- the first year in which this measurement increased since 1997.

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Bush and Ashcroft: A Pattern of Stonewalling (or Secrecy)

By Gary D. Bass, Executive Director, OMB Watch
Op-ed distributed through Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service's op-ed series on freedom of information
As Congress investigates U.S. abuse and torture of prisoners in Iraq, a 50-page Justice Department memo has surfaced that says torture "may be justified" and legal. Along with this shocking news is Attorney General John Ashcroft's disturbing refusal to release it to Congress. Yet this is only the latest instance in a three-year pattern of stonewalling and withholding of information -- business as usual for the Bush administration -- where the lack of public disclosure does serious harm to public safety and trust in our government.

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Coalition Launched to Reverse Rise in Government Secrecy

Washington, D.C., April 15, 2004 - A new coalition launched its campaign and website to combat growing government secrecy Thursday, and released its survey report, Ten Most Wanted Documents for 2004. The survey results indicate the government should disclose more information to the public than its current policies and practices achieve. OpenTheGovernment.org, comprised of 33 organizations working on freedom of information issues, announced its creation and the report at a 2 p.m. news conference at the National Press Club.

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Report Details Dismantling of Public Safeguards at Behest of Special Interests

Washington, D.C.,May 25, 2004 -The Center for American Progress and OMB Watch today released a comprehensive report that details the Bush administration's record of dismantling protections for public health, safety, the environment and corporate responsibility. See the full report and summary on the new CSS website. Crucial safeguards have been swept aside or watered down; enforcement efforts have been curtailed; and emerging problems are being ignored, as the administration squelches information and scientific findings that suggest a need for action.

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Editorial: Legal Aid Restrictions

What do stem cell researchers and legal aid lawyers have in common? An op-ed article in the October 2 edition of the Legal Times illustrates how the federal government has used grant restrictions to limit use of private funds in medical research and delivery of legal services to the poor.

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Different Opinion on Chemical Security

OMB Watch responded to a recent Washington Times Op-ed, entitled "Toxic road map for terrorists" with this letter to the editor. Angela Logomasini ("Toxic road map for terrorists," Op-Ed, 9/4/2002) advocates eliminating public access to risk management plans (RMPs) because it is possible the information could be misused. Perhaps she would agree with some in industry that propose government no longer collect RMPs since the information may fall into the wrong hands.

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