FEMA lawyers insist privacy is paramount (FL 2004 investigation)

[seafan]

Government lawyers said that the privacy of people who received emergency aid after the 2004 Florida hurricanes outweighs the public's interest in learning how the Federal Emergency Management Agency operated after those storms.

That's one argument federal officials made Monday in response to a lawsuit by The News-Press and two other Gannett, Inc.-owned newspapers in Florida. The newspapers sued FEMA and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, in March seeking the names and addresses of people who received government aid after the storms and other documents.

--snip

FEMA lawyers argued in opposition to the newspapers' motion for summary judgment that was filed in federal court in Fort Myers two weeks ago. They said that the information is not public, that it's protected by privacy laws and exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act, and that release of the information would reveal personal and financial data about the value of an aid recipients' home or personal possessions.

The newspapers have also asked for letters and memos from FEMA officials advising President Bush before he committed the federal government to paying 90 percent of eligible public recovery projects in Florida. The norm for that work is 75 percent. Federal lawyers claimed those reports are exempt from disclosure.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050920/NEWS01/509200419/1002/NEWS01&template=printart

[54anickel]

1. Just posted something related to this in today's SMW thread. It was

all geared around the upcoming elections - they've pretty much proven that part of it. Now it's time to find out just how much of OUR money was used to buy votes for Shrub.

I'm sure if this were the election year FEMA's response to Katrina would have been stellar. :eyes:


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fema23mar23,0,5221240.story?page=1
State records show Bush re-election concerns played part in FEMA aid
Consultant predicted a `huge mess'
Posted March 23 2005

[seafan]

2. What is SMW? Thanks.

More links about FEMA in FL in this old thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4704734

[rodeodance]

3. not good!!

he newspapers have also asked for letters and memos from FEMA officials advising President Bush before he committed the federal government to paying 90 percent of eligible public recovery projects in Florida. The norm for that work is 75 percent. Federal lawyers claimed those reports are exempt from disclosure.

[dbt]

5. SMW = Stock Market Watch in LBN section.

Most important daily feature on the DU. Recommended reading for anyone who deals with money.

Remember New Orleans

[seafan]

6. Thanks. n/t

[slay]

4. At the very least someone should investigate and see that the money

was given out appropriately.