No More Excuses on FOIA Reform

I just read an editorial dated February 9, 2014 with the caption, "No more excuses on FOIA reform."  Here are a few excerpts:

"[A state legislator] said the bill will establish uniformity in charges to the public, including copying. There have been instances where citizens attempting to ferret out public information have been presented bills for thousands of dollars to make copies."

"Indeed, some governments require an FOIA request for the most mundane information - information that should be readily available to the public online. In those instances the FOIA is being used by pettifoggers to thwart the spirit of open government."

"As public officials, legislators should be committed to transparency in government."

"To that end, accountability starts with a strong Freedom of Information Act."

"One with teeth."

OK, so the editorial was in the Charleston, SC, Post and Courier.  You didn't really expect to see language like that in a Michigan newspaper, did you?

Government Records Search Technology

Many state statutes mandating public access to government records are flawed because they require that written requests be made to an agency official who has the de facto power to deny, delay or overprice the record requested.

Instead, all non-exempt government records should be posted online in searchable archives as soon as they are created or acquired.

We should insist on FOIA reform that provides greater transparency through application of the latest records search technology, enabling information seekers to obtain records directly, i.e. without the assistance (or obstruction) of a government gatekeeper. 

Agency officials often complain about the cost and inconvenience of responding to FOIA requests.  Well, the solution is at hand.  Of the many technology organizations that market records search mechanisms, some have free, open-source search engines to upgrade the FOIA process.

A good overview of current search technology can be found at New Idea Engineering.
 

It's long past time to update Freedom of Information laws so as to provide direct public access to government records.