[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…