White House announces that it's e-mails aren't subject to FOIA

[Ulaven_Demorte]

Obama Just Officially Decided White House Emails Aren't Subject to the Freedom of Information Act

Monday, the White House announced that it is officially ending the Freedom of Information Act obligations of its Office of Administration. That office provides broad administrative support to the White House—including the archiving of emails—and had been subject to FOIA for much of its nearly four-decade history.

In 2007, the George W. Bush administration decided that its OA would reject any FOIA requests, freeing it from the burden to release emails regarding any number of Bush-era scandals. When President Obama took office in 2009, transparency advocates were hopeful that he'd strike down the Bush policy—especially after he claimed transparency would be a "touchstone" of his presidency.

More HERE

Another strike Mr. President. A hell of an announcement to make during "Sunshine Week" on "Freedom of Information Day" yet..

 

[Busybody]

The PUSSY steals my thread

J' Accuse!!!!!!!!!!

 

[about_average]

Meh.
I knew it was bullshit when he talked about "transparency". I knew it was bullshit when he said he wouldn't hire/appoint former lobbyists.

 

[sr71plt]

This goes to the heart of what I noted was the Catch-22 of the Clinton e-mail issue. (And, no, it's not an attempt at an excuse for what she did.) I'm just surprised that any move would be made to make it any less a Catch-22. There are practical limits to the need to know and transparency that have been overreached. The public doesn't need to know all of the basic work product going into the formulation of government product. Those involved shouldn't have their arms tied on all of the research data and initial discussions of where a situation is and the various responses the government could/should give to that. It's damaging to the comprehensive study of issues/responses. In the private world we protect work product. Need to pull back on the government side to protect more of it there as well.

I believe that was why Hillary Clinton used private e-mails rather than the public record government system. Yes, under the current understandings she shouldn't have and, yes, it shows she is a secretive, scheming person (which I don't necessarily see as a completely bad thing in a politician). But the limits she was facing just aren't practical or even in the nation's interest. (And I'm betting that everyone else who can circumvents them as well.)

 

[phrodeau]

http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-la...house-releases-report-government-transparency

On the whole, this White House is much more transparent than those past.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Meh.
I knew it was bullshit when he talked about "transparency". I knew it was bullshit when he said he wouldn't hire/appoint former lobbyists.

I assumed he'd be more transparent than the last guy, and honestly thought/think that he was. I'll admit that must be my personal prejudice kicking in though. I didn't expect perfection or anything and the no lobbyists thing was laughable from the get go.

 

[about_average]

I didn't expect perfection or anything and the no lobbyists thing was laughable from the get go.

IMO that part is more important than transparency. Lobbyists are the spawn of satan and are a large reason government is so fucked up.

 

[KingOrfeo]

http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-la...house-releases-report-government-transparency

On the whole, this White House is much more transparent than those past.

That is at once reassuring and disturbing.

 

[Sean Renaud]

IMO that part is more important than transparency. Lobbyists are the spawn of satan and are a large reason government is so fucked up.

Yeah, but I honestly don't believe there is much of anything to be done for it. If not lobbyists they'll just get proxies and that could potentially be worse and I see no reason to think it would be better.

The only way I can see that working is if we outlaw them entirely and then give our retired statesmen comfortable lives for life with the agreement that they cannot do any work after leaving office.