Bush signs bill to expand transparency

[IDemo]

Source: Associated Press

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush on Monday signed a bill aimed at giving the public and the media greater access to information about what the government is doing.

The new law toughens the Freedom of Information Act, the first such makeover to the signature public-access law in a decade. It amounts to a congressional pushback against the Bush administration's movement to greater secrecy since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Bush signed the bill without comment in one of his final decisions of the year.

The legislation creates a system for the media and public to track the status of their FOIA requests. It establishes a hot line service for all federal agencies to deal with problems and an ombudsman to provide an alternative to litigation in disclosure disputes.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22456870/

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"Eh, Mr. President, before you sign this, you DO understand that April Fool's Day isn't until APRIL, correct?"

[eagler]

1. All laws are meaningless unless they are followed.

[IDemo]

2. "The buck stops here" has been replaced with "All laws are meaningless"

[MiniMe]

3. And probably added a signing statement that it doesn't apply to the executive branch

[whatdoyouthink]

5. Beet me too it

I would ad - all laws are useless - if know one enforces them - unless your avg Jane or John on the street

[Magleetis]

4. This can't be for real

There is probably some double secret signing statement somewhere.

[PSPS]

6. Wow! Talk about a misleading headline!

This news item is obviously just a copy of a white house handout.

The legislation creates a system for the media and public to track the status of their FOIA requests. It establishes a hot line service for all federal agencies to deal with problems and an ombudsman to provide an alternative to litigation in disclosure disputes.

So, even if followed, all this does is allow someone to track the denial of their request. big deal! And the "provide an alternative to litigation" clause? That means removing the ability to sue and, instead, force arbitration by a bush political appointee. Gee, I wonder who'll prevail with that?

[Kokonoe]

15. SAYS "an alternative to litigation in disclosure disputes".

[ashling]

7. * is pretty transparent now

[lonestarnot]

8. Just another fucking law to disregard. Signing statement will be issued Jan.2,2008. hmmmf

Fuck you bushitler!

[lisainmilo]

9. Shocking, but anything that reverses Ashcroft decisions is good.

"The legislation is aimed at reversing an order by former Attorney General John Ashcroft after the 9/11 attacks in which he instructed agencies to lean against releasing information when there was uncertainty about how doing so would affect national security."

Still I am shocked!....maybe they got rid of all the incriminating evidence in the fire???!!??:shrug:

[ladywnch]

10. I know it says he signed it without comment but

do we <know> that he didn't attache a signing statement saying that he didn't have to follow it?

[ladywnch]

11. to quote Indigo Montoya from Princess Bride, "I do not think it means what you think it means."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[alfredo]

13. He doesn't, Addington does.

[phrigndumass]

12. Orwell ...

Just choked on his cheerios and milk came out his nose ...

[Orsino]

14. No, he doesn't.

Never.

All of his signatures increase opacity. All of them.

[Wisperingvoice]

16. His Final Decision?