Under grilling by top GOP oversight official Rep. Darrell Issa at a hearing Thursday on special political reviews of document requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) submitted by journalists, watchdog groups and lawmakers, Obama administration officials defended the process saying, in the words of a top lawyer, the practice was “sound managerial practice.”
But even while defending the special reviews by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s top political lieutenants, the agency’s top FOIA official admitted the serious delays caused by the process were “not up to my standards” and pointed to changes made after the Associated Press requested reams of documents about how it worked in the summer of 2010.
From the White House website:
My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.Do as I say, etc...