As presidents change, particularly when the new commander in chief wears different political stripes, so do policies.
In his first week, President Obama burnished his left-handed signature on a series of executive orders, reversing eight-year positions of his predecessor, President Bush. Abortion and detention of terrorists claimed most of the headlines.
But for those who are in the business of filing Freedom of Information inquiries with the federal government, an Obama executive order stressing “accountability and transparency” sent ripples throughout the federal bureaucracy. The Bush administration clamped down on the release of public records following the 9/11 terrorist strikes.
For example, requests made by the Times Free Press several years ago on details of a military plane crash in Dayton, Tenn., remain unavailable. We may resubmit our request.
The Obama executive order states: “In the face of doubt, openness prevails.”
In a move to get ahead of the free-flow curve, the administration requested that federal agencies “not wait for specific requests from the public” but “use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government.”
The Obama administration set up a recovery.gov Web site to allow citizens to monitor the billions of taxpayer dollars that are being channeled into economic stimulus silos. Financial institutions that received taxpayer bailout money in the last months of the Bush administration and refused to disclose its use may now be required, under the glare of public attention, to share information.
Every step forward is positive. But, as in many instances, the federal government is steps behind the states. In Georgia, legislation approved last year allows citizens to review the ledgers for state agencies. Legislation is pending in the Tennessee General Assembly to embrace a similar approach to transparency.
Two Washington-based advocacy groups are pushing for a rollback of government secrecy and for more openness in the Congress.
While there is a spotlight on the White House with a change in administration, a glimmer of that light needs to stay focused on the U.S. Senate and efforts to improve access to online information, according to the Sunlight Foundation, an activist organization that supports public access to government documents.
Open-government advocates have to tread lightly when celebrating a new openness on one hand only to be denied access at another time.
While applauding the Freedom of Information executive order, other members of the media were
criticizing President Obama for not permitting media cameras to cover his second oath-taking session.
Government access by the media is a give-and-take proposition, and most of the give resides in the hands of those who have the information: government officials, agencies, bureaucrats and lawyers.
There will continue to be jostling between the media and the government over public access. An appropriate measure is whether openness wins out more often than the closed door.
Transparency is a welcome word, but its application over time is the true test of how the American people’s best interests will be served.
To reach Tom Griscom, call (423) 757-6472 or e-mail tgriscom@timesfreepress.com.
