05/19/07


AP president sees new push for open government, change from post-Sept. 11 attitudes

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- A sea change in attitudes about government secrecy has led Congress to the verge of strengthening the Freedom of Information Act, Tom Curley, president and chief executive of The Associated Press, said Saturday.

Curley told graduating seniors at Penn State University's College of Communications that the need for open government has become a higher public priority in the last three years.

When the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were still fresh in the minds of media leaders, many felt that a freedom of information campaign would be seen as aiding terrorists, he said.

But "today we stand on the brink of the first update of the Freedom of Information Act in 40 years," said Curley, a member of the Sunshine in Government Initiative, a coalition of media groups.

The House passed five open government bills in March, including one giving the public and media more clout in FOIA requests, after Democratic leaders criticized what they called the secretive nature of the Bush administration. The measures, which were sent to the Senate, had strong Republican support.

"The conversation has shifted," Curley said. "It's now seen as strengthening democracy through transparency."

The Bush administration has said it opposes the FOIA bill and has threatened to veto bills dealing with presidential records and whistle-blowers.