Senate Legislation named the Faster FOIA Bill has passed the Senate according to the Houston Chronicle. As I have written on a number of ocassions, this bill does not make the FOIA any faster; it creates a commission that will come up with ideas to make the FOIA faster. These ideas will then likely sit on legislation that goes nowhere. If the Congress is really serious about speeding up FOIA processing they will fully fund FOIA Offices, hold real oversight hearings, and pass the numerous ideas that have already been proposed to make FOIA processing faster. I note that no media outlet has yet asked any of the Senators pushing this bill how it actually makes FOIA processing faster.
On another front, Faster FOIA bill co-sponsor, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx) has issued this press release about FOIA issues.
It's a slower faster bill...
Posted by: Laurence Jarvik | May 30, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Thanks for the update--I'd be grateful if you might modify or append this post with links to your previous pieces about the flaws of the bill ("I have written on a number of ocassions [about how] this bill does not make the FOIA any faster")...thanks!
Posted by: Hersh | May 31, 2011 at 10:06 AM