Dems object to GOP gov't transparency probe - Politics - Capitol Hill - m... http://www.msnbc.msn.

com/id/41393489/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

Dems object to GOP gov't

transparency probe
Below: Discussion Related
Congressmen say Rep. Issa's inquiry will burden federal agencies

By
TED BRIDIS

updated 2/2/2011 4:09:04 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Some Democrats in Congress objected Wednesday to early steps taken by the new Republican chairman of the House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee to conduct a broad inquiry into President Barack Obama's promises to improve government
transparency.

Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Gerald Connolly of Virginia and Peter Welch of Vermont complained in a letter to Rep. Darrell Issa,
R-Calif., that his investigation will burden federal agencies responsible for producing government records under the U.S. Freedom of
Information Act requested by citizens, journalists, companies and others. Cummings is the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee.
Top politics news
Issa last week demanded details of every such request during the last five years, plus copies of
all letters or e-mails between government workers and people with pending requests. He said Senate Dems defeat health care
the effort would make sure that "all federal agencies respond in a timely, substantive and repeal measure
Senate Democrats remained united on Wednesday in killing a
non-discriminatory manner" to requests for records under the information law.
Republican effort to repeal the health care bill signed into law
last March.
The five-year window would cover part of the Bush administration and the first years of
U.S.: Time running out for Mubarak
Obama's presidency.
U.S. lawmakers differ on aid cutoff to Egypt

Analysis: Egypt turmoil will reshape U.S. role

In their letter to Issa on Wednesday, the Democrats said the investigation would require
GOP senators, '12 hopefuls target health care
government offices to turn over perhaps hundreds of thousands of documents. "Without a
Obama, McCain end long-running feud
defined focus, your inquiry will place a significant burden on FOIA offices and divert limited
First Thoughts: Groundhog Day
staff from processing requests from the public," they wrote.
Dems object to GOP gov't transparency probe

Issa's investigation into government transparency under Obama is among the earliest by
Republicans since they won control of the House, and targets one of the first pledges Obama made after he moved into the White House.

The investigation was at least partly prompted by reports last year from The Associated Press that the Homeland Security Department had
sidetracked hundreds of requests for federal records to top political advisers, who wanted information about those requesting the materials.
Most popular
In some cases the release of documents considered politically sensitive was delayed, according to more than 1,000
Blizzard cuts power as deep freeze sets in
pages of e-mails obtained by the AP.
Fearful, frigid night on iconic Chicago road

The Democrats said they were uncomfortable with Issa's request for names of all people who sought federal records, Police: Janitor fatally shoots N. Calif. principa

dates of their requests, descriptions of what they asked to receive and whether they ever received anything. They said Whiteout brings Windy City to its knees
Issa should modify his request to not include names. Chicago drivers abandon vehicles on bus
thoroughfare

"It is unclear why the committee needs the identities of specific FOIA requesters," they wrote.

Names of people who ask the government for records and details about what they sought under the Freedom of Information Act are generally
available publicly, and many are published by federal agencies online.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

1 of 1 2/2/2011 7:35 PM