The report published by OpenTheGovernment.org gives the administration kudos for releasing Justice Department memos on the Bush administration’s interrogation program and establishing new policies regarding Freedom of Information Act requests. But the government also has had its share of disappointments, including its refusal to publish photos of Army personnel abusing detainees, relying too much on “national security” to hide secrets, and trying to keep former Vice President Dick Cheney’s testimony in the Valerie Plame affair from being revealed.

 

Among the highlights from the last year of George W. Bush presidency:

-The government spent almost $200 to keep existing secrets secret for every dollar it spent declassifying documents.

-The number of requests for secret surveillance dropped from 2,371 in 2007 to 2,083 in 2008—the first drop in ten years.

-The budget for the National Intelligence Program rose 9.2% in one year to $47.5 billion.

-Of the $1.3 billion collected in fraud cases, 78% were the result of whistleblower lawsuits.

 

OpenTheGovernment.org consists of 75 organizations, including the Federation of American Scientists, The National Security Archive, Project on Government Oversight, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

Report: Obama Administration Improves Openness (by Pete Yost, Real Clear Politics)

Secrecy Report Card 09 (OpenTheGovernment.org) (PDF)