Publicly funded Smithsonian wants to keep working in secret
The Smithsonian Institution is opposed to an effort by Congress to make it subject to federal FOIA, saying that transparency might inhibit private fund-raising. In an Associated Press story, chief executive G. Wayne Clough argues that the institution, which was created by Congress, might scare off private donors if the agency is subject to FOIA. Clough portrays the agency as some private entity, even though 70 percent of its $1 billion budget comes from taxpayers. Under that argument, most public universities would be able to work in secret because of the shrinking public tax subsidy of higher education and push to acquire donors and grants.
Congress should pass the Open and Transparent Smithsonian Act of 2008 (S. 3276) and stop letting an important taxpayer-funded government agency continue to hide behind an excuse that doesn't fly in other parts of government.