Sen. Kyl Placed Secret Hold On Government Act To Protect Justice Dept.

[kpete]

Shilling For Justice Department, Kyl Placed Secret Hold On Open Government Act

Last week, ThinkProgress noted that a bill called the OPEN Government Act had been locked down in the Senate by a secret hold. The bill in question is a “bipartisan effort to update the seminal Freedom of Information Act to make the government more open and accountable.” The act would:

– Restore meaningful deadlines for agency action under FOIA;
– Impose real consequences on federal agencies for missing statutory deadlines;
– Establish a FOIA hotline service for all federal agencies; and
– Create a FOIA Ombudsman as an alternative to costly litigation.

When Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) tried to bring the bill to a vote on the floor, “the vote was blocked by ‘Senator Anonymous.’ Some Republican senator called the Minority Leader’s office and objected to a vote on the bill, but asked for anonymity and did not publicly state the reason for the hold.”

The man behind the secret hold has now revealed himself: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Kyl’s excuse for placing a hold on the bill? Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department opposes several provisions:

Kyl says the Justice Department is concerned that it could force them to reveal sensitive information.

more at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/31/kyl-open-government/

[Kagemusha]

1. Shame. Shame!

And I am oh so not surprised it was Kyl.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Here's how to contact Senator Kyl

Sen. Jon Kyl (R)
730 Hart Senate Office Building
[phone]; 224-2207
Phoenix: [phone]
http://kyl.senate.gov/

I bet he would like to know exactly what we think about that.

[Karenina]

4. Just leave a bucket of tar with feathers on top

in front of his office building.

[rosesaylavee]

6. Would that be really really warm tar?

[formercia]

3. Obstruction of Justice? n/t

[Morgana LaFey]

5. Sensitive information like, say, their GUILT? Amazing. nt