Kagan sought secrecy in 4 of 5 open gov't cases

[cory777]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's arguments as solicitor general in several cases on government secrecy were at odds with a promise of transparency made by her boss and top client, President Barack Obama.

In four of five cases she dealt with involving the Freedom of Information Act, Kagan argued in favor of secrecy, Justice Department documents show. In those four lawsuits, the Supreme Court took her side and let lower court rulings in the government's favor stand.

The justices haven't yet said whether they will take the fifth case, in which Kagan argued against broadening an open records exemption to let corporations claim personal privacy rights and avoid public release of government documents about them.

As the government's top lawyer arguing before the Supreme Court, the solicitor general generally determines which cases to take to the court and what to argue. The White House and Justice Department declined to say whether Kagan's arguments in open records cases reflect her personal views.

Read more: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100622/D9GG69C80.html

[No Elephants]

1. Oh, great.

[papadog]

2. Obama has already won the election, why does he need to keep promises?

Obama has been even worse than Bush on many issues, (Whistle blower prosecutions, dadt, Afghanistan, targeted assasinations of Americans,etc.). He's just taking his turn at the trough. Neither party gives a damn about what the "PEOPLE" want or need (unless they're rich donors). They'll say whatever they need to to get elected (seems like I say this after every election) but forget about us as soon as they win. When will we have an actual Representaive Government (and I don't mean representing special Interests)? It sad that we talk about "throwing the bums out" but always seem to re-elect our individual representatives. Until we actually do, several times nothing will change. In the '94 Republican takeover they ran on a "Contrat with America" slogan but being true big business advocates they soon broke it (I guess we should have had it signed and notorized). Nothing changed!

A major issue people were angry about in '94 was the constant pay raises Congress was giving itself without merit. That was never brought up or changed by either party and never will because they both benefit. Screw the people, they're not giving up thier pay no matter how little they actually get accomplished.