Democrats, Republicans ignore US Freedom of Information Act

Opinion: April 9, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Freedom of information is one of the cornerstones that separate the United States from many other countries in the world. Back in 1966 President Johnson signed into law the Freedom of Information Act to clarify and protect the right of the public to information, and for other purposes. Nearly 50 years later FOIA is just as important as it was back then, but today it seems to be met with more resistance.

In 2007, then Sen. Barack Obama campaigned on being the most transparent administration in history. Yet, recently the Associated Press announced that for the second consecutive year the Obama administration failed to honor its promise, and actually reduced the transparency of government documents. Then on March 16, the White House announced that it plans to delete more of its FOIA regulations.

In 2007, at the “Take Back America,” event, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, criticized George W. Bush’s administration for so-called “secret emails.” Clinton said, “We know our Constitution is being shredded. We know about the secret wiretaps, the secret military tribunals, the secret White House email accounts.”

This year it came out that while she was serving as secretary of state, she used her own private server to conduct her email. Secretary Clinton’s explanation was that she had only convenience in mind. It amazes that some of the brightest minds in the world are not able to add an additional email to any electronic device. My kids are both teenagers and have managed to install multiple emails on their cellphones.

Democrats aren’t the only ones guilty of using personal emails instead of government emails. In fact, several prominent leaders in the Republican Party who are considering the run for president in 2016 are guilty. Jeb Bush, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, and Bobby Jindal are just a short list. Hypocrisy doesn’t even begin to justify it. Every government worker from the top all the way down to the janitor needs to be held accountable for their actions while working, and that includes their email.

Once upon a time the elected representatives in Washington, D.C., worked for their constituents; now it seems like they want to work for their own best interest.

Jason Hakes, Howland