Government

"Wyoming Towns Eye Private Funds To Plow Yellowstone Roads" [1]

"With government snow plows idled by federal budget cuts known as the 'sequester,' small Wyoming towns on the fringe of Yellowstone are organizing a private fund-raising drive for this year's spring road-clearing operation inside the national park."

Environmental Politics [2]

Government [3]

Natural Resources [4]

Public [5]

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [6]

Source: Reuters [7], 03/15/2013

Read more about "Wyoming Towns Eye Private Funds To Plow Yellowstone Roads" [1]

New FOIA Bill Would Speed Federal Response, Ease Tracking [8]

A bipartisan House bill was released March 12, 2013, marking Sunshine Week with proposed steps forward in implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill, sponsored by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD), was put out in draft form for discussion and has yet to be formally introduced.

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WatchDog TipSheet [9]

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Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [3]

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Read more about New FOIA Bill Would Speed Federal Response, Ease Tracking [8]

AP Analysis: Feds Cite Security More Often As Reason for Withholding Information [11]

An Associated Press analysis of data on Freedom of Information Act requests showed little increase in the number of FOIA requests from the public, a slight increase in rejection of such requests, and an increase in federal claims that such rejections were justified by security and internal deliberations.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Laws & Regulations [10]

Journalism & Media [12]

Government [3]

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Public [5]

Read more about AP Analysis: Feds Cite Security More Often As Reason for Withholding Information [11]

Effort To Reform Secret Federal Advisory Committees Soldiers On [13]

Secret meetings and conflicts of interest for experts on federal advisory committees are still problems, openness advocates told Congress during Sunshine Week 2013. The searchable Federal Advisory Committee Act online database is a great aid for reporters in searching for this type of information on a particular beat.

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WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [3]

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Public [5]

Read more about Effort To Reform Secret Federal Advisory Committees Soldiers On [13]

Recent Secret CRS Reports Liberated [14]

Now you can read reports on key topics on the environmental beat — compiled by the Congressional Research Service and paid for with your tax dollars. Congress does not allow CRS to release them to the public. Thanks to the Government Secrecy Project at the Federation of American Scientists for making them available.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Government [3]

Food [15]

Environmental Politics [2]

Energy & Fuel [16]

Economy & Business [17]

Agriculture [18]

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Public [5]

Read more about Recent Secret CRS Reports Liberated [14]

GOPers Call for Probe of Alleged EPA FOIA Blockage [19]

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) on March 7, 2013, released an e-mail exchange they suggest shows EPA lawyers delaying responses to requests for controversial information. They also charge EPA with incompetence and urge U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

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Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [3]

Environmental Politics [2]

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Public [5]

Read more about GOPers Call for Probe of Alleged EPA FOIA Blockage [19]

"Environmentalists Decry Paul Ryan Budget" [20]

"Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday released his budget proposal calling for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and slashing the discretionary spending that helps protect Americans from climate-related threats."

Activism [21]

Economy & Business [17]

Environmental Politics [2]

Government [3]

Public [5]

National (U.S.) [22]

Source: Huffington Post [23], 03/13/2013

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Sequester May Bring Environmental Layoffs, Regulation Shortfalls [24]

"The federal budget sequester took effect on March 1 with a number of likely environmental impacts. With $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade and $85 billion through the end of the fiscal year in September, layoffs and difficulties in enforcing the nation's environmental regulations are expected."

Disasters [25]

Environmental Politics [2]

Government [3]

Laws & Regulations [10]

Science [26]

Public [5]

National (U.S.) [22]

Source: Huffington Post [27], 03/01/2013

Read more about Sequester May Bring Environmental Layoffs, Regulation Shortfalls [24]

White House Opens Tax-Funded Research to Taxpayers [28]

Such a move had been resisted for years by the few large companies that dominate the scientific publishing industry. Some open-access groups hailed the memo as a breakthrough that would really allow taxpayers to read the research they pay for. Still, the proof will be in the implementation.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

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Government [3]

Environmental Politics [2]

Consumer [29]

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Public [5]

Read more about White House Opens Tax-Funded Research to Taxpayers [28]

Judge Rules BLM Must Disclose Companies Nominating Drilling Tracts [30]

A small chink appeared this month in the armor of nondisclosure that protects the oil and gas industry's relationship with federal leasing agencies. BLM had refused to disclose the nominating entities. Federal District Judge Matsch ruled that the Freedom of Information Act requires the disclosure.

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WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [3]

Energy & Fuel [16]

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Public [5]

Read more about Judge Rules BLM Must Disclose Companies Nominating Drilling Tracts [30]

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