Bill 18-777, the "Open Government Act of 2010," is a detailed proposal in eight titles to promote transparency in government.  In endorsing the over-all bill, the ACLU-NCA focused its testimony on two of the provisions:  One would establish a new Open Government Office to promote D.C. Agencies' releasing information to the public. The second would improve rule-making procedures so that the process of government itself is more transparent.

ACLU-NCA Staff Attorney Fritz Mulhauser, who has filed many of the ACLU-NCA's FOIA requests, delivered the testimony before the D.C. Council's Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, chaired by the bill's principal author, Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3).  To see a copy of our testimony, please click here.

Later, the ACLU sent the Committee by letter a Supplemental Filing that addressed three areas not covered in the original testimony.  The ACLU-NCA supported broadeningthe provisisions specifying those who must be charged no more than copying costs.  Not only should scientific and educational institutions be charged the lower fee, so should 501(c)(3) groups, like the ACLU, neighborhood groups and ANCs; their nonprofit objectives are of similar merit.  The ACLU proposed adding a provision, like that in the federal FOIA, for expediting certain information requests.  Finally, the ACLU opposed the increase of sanctions for violating the act from a $100 fine to a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of $10,000 on the grounds that such a penalty might deter people from seeking employment in the D.C. Government.  Please click here to see a copy of our supplemental filing.