Ney draws line at public access to research

[cmd]

http://www.timesreporter.com/left.php?ID=25035&r=4

My beloved congressman Freedom Fries Ney is at work again.
Apparently there is a need to cover up congressional reports. Read on.......and there's a lot more in the story.

WASHINGTON – Year after year, the Congressional Research Service produces thousands of exclusive, coveted reports and analyses that help lawmakers make sense of complex issues and legislation. Yet taxpayers, who finance the service to the tune of $80 million a year, have no guaranteed access to the publications.
(snip)
At the same time, Ney called a halt to efforts to provide greater public access to the research. He ended a two-year pilot project, which allowed the public to search through the otherwise inaccessible CRS database via links on the Web sites of participating congressmen.
(snip)
In a letter to colleagues, Ney said the committee was “preserving direct member relationships with constituents ... safeguarding the confidentiality of CRS communications with congressional offices, and ... ensuring that CRS products and resources are focused on the needs and agenda of Congress.”
(snip)
This week Ney ruled out changing his mind on the issue. Without his support, proposals to broaden public access to the reports have little chance of success. The legislation would have to win approval in his committee, which has jurisdiction over the research service, before it could receive consideration in the full House.

[ithacan]

1. can congresscritters publicize these reports?

I'm wondering if sympathetic members of congress could put onto their websites reports that are the most important.

This would of course be less than a second best option, given the volume of research that CRS does, but it could get some of the most important and useful ones out into the public domain.

[terrisel]

2. If they withhold the information we shouldn't be paying

Who owns the fruits of our investments?

If we are providing the money that produces these reports, why is this guy keeping our reports from us?

This is similar to Taxation without Representation.

Tax revolts based on these issues is what is needed to counteract the phony tax revolts of the so-called "right" wing.

We pay for the production of the research, we own the research.

We pay seed money for drug reseach, we have an interest in the fair pricing of those drugs and assurance that every taxpayer has an opportunity to purchase at affordable prices.

Government "takings" of our money through taxation or our property through eminent domain requires fair payment for our investments and for our loss of money and property.

It's our money and that money, or something of equal value should be given back to us.

[baby_bear]

4. Hear, hear, terrisel

And a letter to my congressman is in the making.

s_m

[Kolesar]

3. so much for the Freedom of Information Act or 1974

OTOH, electronic technology makes huge amounts of information available. Newspapers have a hard time protecting privacy rights -- in legitimate cases.