Media groups want new FOI act by Memorial Day
The Freedom of Information Act is 40 years old and anyone who has tried to make a request knows that to say it has imperfections is being polite. A number of media and Sunshine groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, want the Congress to have the new bill passed by Memorial Day.
The changes cannot come to soon. Just about every journalist has a story about making a request, waiting months for a reply and then feeling heartsunk as you review papers that are irrelevant or mostly blacked out.