Congress Votes To Broaden Openness Law

CONGRESS VOTES TO BROADEN OPENNESS LAW
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Williamson]
Taking aim at Bush administration secrecy, Congress yesterday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would toughen the Freedom of Information Act and penalize government agencies that fail to surrender public documents on time. The bill would speed the process of releasing government documents to the public under the FOIA, as the act is known, and broaden the information available to the public by including, for example, additional government contracting information. The measure passed the House by voice vote yesterday, less than a week after it was similarly approved by the Senate. The White House has objected to some of the bill's provisions, but proponents expect it to clear the final hurdle during the congressional recess next week, when bills left unsigned for 10 days can pass without the president's signature.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121800918.html
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