Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Citizens have a fundamental right to know what their government is doing & political operatives should not be interfering with legitimate requests by citizens and journalists under the Freedom of Information Act said
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) today after the AP reported political operatives in the Obama Administration are screening Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
I am deeply disturbed that Obama Administration political operatives filtered FOIA requests based on the political or professional affiliation of those requesting the transparency guaranteed to our citizens under federal law.
And I commend the House panel for doing its job of oversight of the executive branch and I hope they get to the bottom of these allegations."
Sen. Cornyn recently re-introduced the bipartisan Faster FOIA Act with colleague Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). This legislation would establish an advisory panel to examine agency backlogs in processing FOIA requests.
The panel named the Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays will be required to provide recommendations to Congress for legislative and administrative action to enhance agency responses to FOIA requests.
Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance Judiciary Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committees Immigration Refugees and Border Security subcommittee.
