FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
JUNE 17 LETTER
The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called on the federal government to make specific changes that would increase transparency and protect the public’s right to know.
In a June 17 letter drafted by Demand Progress, NEFAC and other advocates outlined three priorities the U.S. government should commit to implementing.
Government should:
(1) Address the creation of and reliance upon secret law embodied in final legal opinions issued by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel.
(2) Reinvigorate its commitment to improving its implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
(3) Improve transparency around federal spending, building on the reforms and infrastructure developed over the past two decades.
Transparency advocates were asked earlier this year by federal officials to share their top three requests for the United States government to commit to implementing as part of the Summit for Democracy with respect to federal transparency.
“Civil society will judge the success of the Democracy Summit and this administration’s efforts to strengthen our democracy based upon whether the United States government makes and implements significant commitments with respect to transparency in the United States,” the groups wrote.
NEFAC drafts and signs onto amicus briefs, letters and statements addressing important First Amendment issues in all New England states and on the national level. Read all our amicus briefs, advocacy letters and statements here.
NEFAC was formed in 2006 to advance and protect the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society. Our members include lawyers, journalists, historians, academics and private citizens.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
Leadership Circle donors include the Rhode Island Foundation, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters include Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, Genie Gannett for the First Amendment Museum, Linda Pizzuti Henry, Connecticut Public and GBH-Boston.