john[_5_]
October 29th 09, 07:54 AM
[And we all know why that is. The Bandits need to work in secret so the
whole long running Virus hunting racket isn't exposed.]
Freedom of Information: Stalled at CDC and D.C. Government
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/27/couricandco/entry5427136.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
In August 2009, CBS News made a simple request of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention for public documents, e-mails and other materials CDC
used to communicate to states the decision to stop testing individual cases
of Novel H1N1, or "swine flu." When the public affairs folks at CDC refused
to produce the documents and quit responding to my queries altogether, I
filed a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the materials.
Members of the news media are entitled to expedited access, which I
requested, since this was for a pending news report and on an issue of
public health and interest.
The Obama administration made a commitment to a "new era of open
government," as stated in a presidential memorandum on the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). On March 19, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder
issued new FOIA guidelines to "restore the public's ability to access
information in a timely manner."
Two months after my FOI request, the CDC has yet to produce any of these
easily retrievable materials. Sadly, this is of little surprise. This has
become standard operating procedure in Washington.
Watch: A CBS News producer asks CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden for
information on H1N1 testing, Sept. 19
Today, I received a letter from the CDC Freedom of Information office, which
even by the normal baffling standards, borders on the absurd. The letter is
to inform me that my request for "expedited" treatment of my FOI request has
been denied because CDC has determined the request is "not a matter of
widespread and exceptional media and public interest."
First, it seems ill advised to allow the responding agency (which often
doesn't want the info released) to determine whether an issue is of media
and public interest and, therefore, subject to expedited treatment. Further,
the CDC may be the only agency on the planet to argue that testing and
counting of swine flu cases is "not of widespread and exceptional media and
public interest."
CBS News reporting on the topic has been quoted and reproduced
internationally by news organizations such as California NPR, radio talk
shows and others. [If you believe this matter is of public interest, you can
express that view to CDC FOI Officer Lynn Armstrong or Katherine Norris at
404-639-7270 (recording) or 404-639-7395 (fax).]
By way of background, the Freedom of Information Act was a terrific idea
intended to expedite release of public information to the public. It was
supposed to stop federal agencies from using their power and control to
withhold public information from the people who own it. However, in
practice, most investigative journalists would probably tell you that the
Freedom of Information Act is farcical. Many federal agencies use it to
obstruct the delay or release of obviously public information. In short:
they put your request (no matter how simple or urgent) at the end of an
extremely long, mysterious cue and - if it is ever answered - it is either
answered by a letter arguing the public materials can be withheld (therefore
requiring an appeal); and/or it is answered months and often years later
when the material obviously has lost its news value.
Here's another example of FOI law proving ineffective at producing results:
this time within Washington D.C. government.
On June 22, there was a metro crash in Washington, D.C., that killed nine
people and injured scores others. Shortly after the accident, DC Fire and
EMS posted edited video of the scene and their response on YouTube. I filed
a formal Freedom of Information request with DC Fire so for the entire,
unedited videotape.
The original Freedom of Information request for DC Metro Crash video went
unanswered. Numerous calls to follow up produced either false information
("There was no other videotape other than what was on You Tube."), or were
ignored entirely. Eventually I contacted the DC Mayor's Office (where any
appeal on Freedom of Information denials must be processed), but those
contacts were likewise ignored. I finally followed the formal appeals
process, which required notifying the mayor's office in writing as well as
the responding agency. Once again: ignored.
Eventually, I made a query of the Attorney General's Office for the District
of Columbia. They explained it was not their job to handle such matters.
However, from what I was then told, I concluded that false information was
being disseminated, including that I had been provided with some FOI
materials. (I had not). I asked if I could file an ethics complaint since I
believed that FOI law had not been followed and that DC employees had
provided false information. I was put in contact with the FOI official with
the Executive Office of the Mayor, who indicated she would look into the
appeal.
Nothing has come of it.
Strangely enough, four months after I filed my FOI request, DC Fire released
a "documentary training style" videotape of the Metro Crash. It included
some of that videotape that is responsive to my FOI request (videotape I was
told didn't exist). I sent an email asking about this but, apparently, this
issue is back on "ignore" status.
As for the CDC? Their letter denying expedited treatment assures me they are
"continuing to process" my request on a non-expedited basis.
Tick, tick, tick.
whole long running Virus hunting racket isn't exposed.]
Freedom of Information: Stalled at CDC and D.C. Government
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/27/couricandco/entry5427136.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
In August 2009, CBS News made a simple request of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention for public documents, e-mails and other materials CDC
used to communicate to states the decision to stop testing individual cases
of Novel H1N1, or "swine flu." When the public affairs folks at CDC refused
to produce the documents and quit responding to my queries altogether, I
filed a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the materials.
Members of the news media are entitled to expedited access, which I
requested, since this was for a pending news report and on an issue of
public health and interest.
The Obama administration made a commitment to a "new era of open
government," as stated in a presidential memorandum on the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). On March 19, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder
issued new FOIA guidelines to "restore the public's ability to access
information in a timely manner."
Two months after my FOI request, the CDC has yet to produce any of these
easily retrievable materials. Sadly, this is of little surprise. This has
become standard operating procedure in Washington.
Watch: A CBS News producer asks CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden for
information on H1N1 testing, Sept. 19
Today, I received a letter from the CDC Freedom of Information office, which
even by the normal baffling standards, borders on the absurd. The letter is
to inform me that my request for "expedited" treatment of my FOI request has
been denied because CDC has determined the request is "not a matter of
widespread and exceptional media and public interest."
First, it seems ill advised to allow the responding agency (which often
doesn't want the info released) to determine whether an issue is of media
and public interest and, therefore, subject to expedited treatment. Further,
the CDC may be the only agency on the planet to argue that testing and
counting of swine flu cases is "not of widespread and exceptional media and
public interest."
CBS News reporting on the topic has been quoted and reproduced
internationally by news organizations such as California NPR, radio talk
shows and others. [If you believe this matter is of public interest, you can
express that view to CDC FOI Officer Lynn Armstrong or Katherine Norris at
404-639-7270 (recording) or 404-639-7395 (fax).]
By way of background, the Freedom of Information Act was a terrific idea
intended to expedite release of public information to the public. It was
supposed to stop federal agencies from using their power and control to
withhold public information from the people who own it. However, in
practice, most investigative journalists would probably tell you that the
Freedom of Information Act is farcical. Many federal agencies use it to
obstruct the delay or release of obviously public information. In short:
they put your request (no matter how simple or urgent) at the end of an
extremely long, mysterious cue and - if it is ever answered - it is either
answered by a letter arguing the public materials can be withheld (therefore
requiring an appeal); and/or it is answered months and often years later
when the material obviously has lost its news value.
Here's another example of FOI law proving ineffective at producing results:
this time within Washington D.C. government.
On June 22, there was a metro crash in Washington, D.C., that killed nine
people and injured scores others. Shortly after the accident, DC Fire and
EMS posted edited video of the scene and their response on YouTube. I filed
a formal Freedom of Information request with DC Fire so for the entire,
unedited videotape.
The original Freedom of Information request for DC Metro Crash video went
unanswered. Numerous calls to follow up produced either false information
("There was no other videotape other than what was on You Tube."), or were
ignored entirely. Eventually I contacted the DC Mayor's Office (where any
appeal on Freedom of Information denials must be processed), but those
contacts were likewise ignored. I finally followed the formal appeals
process, which required notifying the mayor's office in writing as well as
the responding agency. Once again: ignored.
Eventually, I made a query of the Attorney General's Office for the District
of Columbia. They explained it was not their job to handle such matters.
However, from what I was then told, I concluded that false information was
being disseminated, including that I had been provided with some FOI
materials. (I had not). I asked if I could file an ethics complaint since I
believed that FOI law had not been followed and that DC employees had
provided false information. I was put in contact with the FOI official with
the Executive Office of the Mayor, who indicated she would look into the
appeal.
Nothing has come of it.
Strangely enough, four months after I filed my FOI request, DC Fire released
a "documentary training style" videotape of the Metro Crash. It included
some of that videotape that is responsive to my FOI request (videotape I was
told didn't exist). I sent an email asking about this but, apparently, this
issue is back on "ignore" status.
As for the CDC? Their letter denying expedited treatment assures me they are
"continuing to process" my request on a non-expedited basis.
Tick, tick, tick.