July 4th is celebrated as our democratic nation’s birthday. Another event being celebrated on this date is the anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act, and the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County has provided a gift for this party.
The League is a national nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. This is accomplished through education and advocacy to influence public policy.
On a local level, the League has hosted candidate forums and meetings with elected officials, conducted studies on open government processes or constraints, financial procedures, facilitated policy discussions relative to economic development and balancing revenue sources, and supports committee work of the State Board of Elections.
This February, the local League was one of 11 national recipients for a “Citizen Initiative for Transparency Grant.” Funded through the Herb Block Foundation, this ongoing project to monitor and advocate for open government anywhere in America is meant to provide guidance on how to promote positive change at a local level. The goal for using the awarded grant here in Montgomery County was to inform others of the various processes currently available in Virginia to access public records, and the crucial role of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in our democracy. This initiative was championed by Carol Lindstrom of Depot Dazed.
FOIA was signed into law in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, evolving over time as applied at the federal or state levels. The basis for this act was that Americans enjoy “government by the people, for the people.” This places a critical requirement of citizens being able to see what our government officials are doing, and why.
Over the past several decades, a lot of the political pressure for strengthening this act has come from traditional media – the press. With the advent of the internet and easier access to information sharing, FOIA requirements and restrictions have continued to change along with political and social environments.
Today, more citizens are asking questions and many government agencies meet or exceed the intent of this law. Previously, FOIA was often used as a means to access information by corporations who in turn created huge databases and resold the public records to political groups or for marketing and legal purposes.
FOIA laws are significantly different between federal agencies and from state to state. Many government entities or individual officials do not provide public information voluntarily, whether by providing everything via the internet for quick and easy access, or when formally requested under this law. As FOIA laws have evolved, so has its use by individuals, the media, and educational institutions.
The LWV of Montgomery County used the grant to create a website, www.vaopengov.org, as a tool anyone may use to learn more about how a FOIA request should be made and how a government is to respond to these requests. This provides guidance to help others research state and federal laws or documents which are vital to an informed constituency. The resource center contains a wealth of links to assist anyone who want to understand FOIA rights, how to make a specific FOIA request, where to submit that request and document the process. The League’s resource center also provides for those taking these steps to share their experience – positive or negative.
Celebrating our country's birthday and our birthright to personal freedoms is great. Having the tools to be informed citizens and voters -- government by the people, for the people -- can be priceless.