NYT/AP: Gonzales Urged (by press) to Rescind (Ashcroft) FOIA Rules

[DeepModem Mom]

Gonzales Urged to Rescind FOIA Rules
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 28, 2005
Filed at 7:09 p.m. ET


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press and other news organizations are encouraging Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to rescind a policy restricting public access to government information.

The change was put in place by Gonzales' predecessor, John Ashcroft, shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

''Where agencies were once encouraged to disclose unless disclosure would do harm, they are currently encouraged to withhold if there are legal grounds for doing so,'' Tom Curley, AP president and chief executive officer, said in a letter to Gonzales. ''We think this change was a terrible mistake.''

In an AP interview this week, Gonzales said he would reconsider the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guidance established by Ashcroft.

Deanna Sands, managing editor of the Omaha, Neb., World-Herald and president of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, also sent a letter to Gonzales encouraging him to change the policy because Americans ''deserve a more responsive government.''...


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Gonzales-FOIA.html

[jazzjunkysue]

1. Gonzales said he would reconsider the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gu

Gee. What a guy. As if it's up to him to decide this. When did this become the united kingdom of america? Where are all the true conservatives when you need them? What about freedom of information and speech? I thought that stuff was what the guns were for.

Why does the public allow this crap to go on?

[fearnobush]

2. Gonzales - Asked to restore the 1st Amendment...

Yeah, that will never happen. If he did, he would be facing a trial for Abu Gruabe tortures