Feb 26 Access Advocates meet with Senator Don Betzold

Senator Don Betzold, chief author of pending legislation related to the format for all state government information (SF131), will meet with access advocates on Monday, February 26, 5:00 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits, 2314 University Avenue West in St. Paul. The meeting is sponsored by the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MnCOGI), the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and the Telecommunications and Information Policy Roundtable (TIPR), SLA-MN and ASIST.

The proposed legislation, though specifically related to preservation, opens the door to a broader discussion of the state “information chain”, a chain that reaches from collection to end-user access, from open access to protection of privacy – and all the links along the way.

This is an opportunity for stakeholders to learn more about the current bill, to discuss the need for comprehensive strategic planning, and to share perspectives on information/telecommunications policy and practice.

Senator Betzold, a DFLer from the Northwest suburbs, chairs the Senate Finance Committee-State Government Budget Division. He also serves on the Judiciary and State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committees.

In 2006 Senator Betzold received the Peter S. Popovich Freedom of Information Award presented by the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists. The award cited Senator Betzold’s “long and consistent work to foster open government during his legislative career in the Minnesota Senate

This meeting is free and open to the public. The office building at 2314 University is just a block East of Raymond on the South side of University. The #16 bus goes by the door; the #50 bus stops at Raymond and University. Parking is readily accessible east of the office building. Enter through the east door and watch for signs.

CIA Proposed Rule on FOIA Fees Would Burden Requesters and the Agency National Security Archive Warns that Fee Disputes Obstruct Open Government

National Security Archive Comments on Proposed CIA FOIA Fee Regulations(PDF - 135 KB) National Security Archive FOIA page Washington DC, February 7, 2007 - The CIA's proposed new rule on Freedom of Information Act processing fees is likely to discourage FOIA requesters while imposing new administrative burdens both on the Agency and the public, according to formal comments filed with the CIA today by the National Security Archive of George Washington University. The Archive's general counsel, Meredith Fuchs, commented that, "Significant time, money, and other resources were spent by the CIA on fee disputes last year. One of those disputes involved the CIA's refusal to abide by a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals judicial decision about the Archive's fee status. Given that the Agency recouped only $4,732.80 in fees in FY 2006, those disputes served mainly to delay and obstruct FOIA requests." The Archive recommended that the Agency change its proposed rule to: (1) eliminate the unnecessary and improper definitions of FOIA requester categories; (2) eliminate the requirement that all requesters make open-ended, written fee commitments because many FOIA requests can be processed without the requester incurring any fees and the CIA proposal would discourage requesters and add to the Agency's administrative processing time; (3) eliminate the illegal provision mandating prepayment of fees before the CIA will honor form or format requests; (4) revise the proposed duplication fees provisions so that requesters pay only those "direct costs" actually incurred in the processing of the individual request, whether for paper or electronic duplication; and (5) revise the public interest fee waiver provisions to follow the letter and intent of the FOIA to promote dissemination of information in the public interest. The Archive has had to sue the CIA twice over FOIA fee issues, despite the D.C. Circuit's definitive 1989 ruling in the Archive's favor. The most recent case, filed in 2006, covered 42 FOIA requests that the CIA deemed not to be "newsworthy"; only after the Archive filed its legal complaint and a motion for summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia did the CIA reverse course on the 42 requests, but even then fell short of committing to abide by the judicial precedents. Click here for more

Feb 12 Meeting Agenda

MnCOGI Board meeting
Monday, February 12, 2007
2:30 p.m.
Cafeteria - Coeur de Catherine
College of St. Catherine

Agenda items

February 5 planning meeting - follow-up
Betzold talk - February 226 - 5:00 p.m.
Finnegan FOI Award - nominations due 3/1
Webcast - March 12 – details
FOI Day - March 16 - details
Finances - request to funders
Website - "look" and responsibility
Other agenda items
Next meeting

If you have items to add to the agenda please bring them Monday.
We have a lot to do!!! Please try to make the meeting!

Steven Aftergood condemns the abuses of overclassification, excessive secrecy

Steven Aftergood was the 2006 James Madison award winner. This article (Steven Aftergood condemns the abuses of overclassification, excessive secrecy) tells the story of how Aftergood got involved with the government and their overclassification of government information – starting with a secret plan to develop a nuclear-powered rocket engine for missile defense.

2007 Intelligence Authorization Bill Advances in Senate

2007 Intelligence Authorization Bill Advances in Senate

The 2007 intelligence authorization bill was approved without amendment on February 8 by the Senate Armed Services Committee with a recommendation that it be passed into law.
The Senate bill would notably require public disclosure of the annual intelligence budget total, an objective long sought by open government advocates and classification reformers. Although there is no credible national security rationale for withholding the amount of the intelligence budget, it remains formally classified.

The Committee issued a brief report on the pending intelligence bill.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held a closed hearing February 8 on Saudi Arabia and the reputed role of some Saudis in financing terrorist activities.

The hearing was held at the request of SSCI member Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) who described his perspective on the subject in a rather blunt statement on the Senate floor.
"It is time to bring to light the way in which Saudi oil money is fueling the fires of terrorism so people can actually see who is getting burned and what is necessary to protect the security and the well-being of Americans in a perilous world," he said.
dated 2/9/07

Meeting Notes from Feb 5, 2007

Braving the frigid February evening approximately 20 hardy advocates met on Monday, February 5, to discuss plans for Sunshine Week and the need for and viability of a Minnesota Coalition on Government Information. Journalists, librarians and reps of nonprofits exchanged ideas for Freedom of Information Day, anticipated legislative initiatives and the scope and mission of a Coalition to address access priorities. The conclusion – that a coalition of individuals and organizations is essential to raise the level of awareness of access as a political issue and to share resources to support openness in government. The group further concluded that a priority is to tend to issues of accountability and monitoring as well as strategic planning for state government resources. Participants discussed membership, funding, purpose and stakeholders and specifics of Sunshine Week including the scheduled webcast on March 12 sponsored by MnCOGI. Don Gemberling, recipient of the 2005 Freedom of Information Award, chaired the meeting.

Don also spoke at the community immediately following sponsored by the Library Science program at the College of St. Catherine. The group viewed the 2006 national dialog on access, “Are We Safer in the Dark” followed by a discussion of access and FOI issues.

Representatives of the Open Document Format Alliance and IBM have been in town meeting with state employees and concerned individuals including reps of MnCOGI. Discussion centered on a legislative proposal (SF131) authored by Senator Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley) The proposed legislation deals specifically with open document format for state government information preservation. Supporters encouraged MnCOGI to capitalize on the opportunity to address access issues in a broader context and with a circle of stakeholders including end-users.

Just such a meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 5:00 p.m. at a St Paul location to be announced. Senator Don Betzold will describe the intent of his legislative proposal. (SF131) Participants will have an opportunity to address needs, priorities and the broader issues of collection, organization, preservation, monitoring and access to state government information. Updated information on this site.

Nominations needed for the James Madison Award and the Eileen Cooke State & Local Madison Award

Nominations needed for the James Madison Award and the Eileen Cooke State & Local Madison Award! Each year, on Freedom of Information Day, the Madison Awards are presented by ALA to recognize those individuals or groups that have championed, protected, and promoted public access to government information and the public's right to know. (Learn more)
Program Length
6 minutes, 19 seconds
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