[govinfo] GovInfo News 4-19-2007
- From: "Patrice McDermott" <pmcdermott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "govinfo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <govinfo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:31:32 -0400
- Judge Rejects Request for Secret Trial
- Senate committee modifies earmark rules
- Democracy in Jeopardy!
Patrice McDermott, Director
OpenTheGovernment.org
1742 Connecticut Ave NW, 3rd floor
Washington, DC 20009
202.332.OPEN (6736)
www.openthegovernment.org
- Judge Rejects Request for Secret Trial
By Matthew Barakat
Tuesday April 17, 2007 3:16 AM
A federal judge on Monday rejected prosecutors' request to close portions of an
upcoming trial for two former pro-Israel lobbyists accused of violating the
Espionage Act. The government's proposal to keep huge swaths of evidence in
the case out of public view was unprecedented and violated both the defendants'
and the public's right to an open trial, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis said.
more [AP]
***
- Senate committee modifies earmark rules
Alexis Unkovic
April 17, 2007
US Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) announced Tuesday that the Senate Appropriations
Committee he chairs has agreed to adopt new standards governing so-called
earmarks inserted by legislators into bills to fund special spending projects.
The proposed ethics and earmark reform legislation will define the term
"earmark" and will require that all earmarks be clearly identified in the
committee bill and report, both of which will be published on the Internet. In
addition, the legislation will mandate that Senators certify that neither they
nor their spouses have a financial interest in any earmark. Byrd said the
Senate Appropriations Committee will follow the standards until they are
enacted into law. more [Jurist]
To take action, go here.
***
- Democracy in Jeopardy!
OpenTheGovernment.org invites you to come join James Madison, Ms. Public, and
George W. Bush in a flash video game show – Democracy in Jeopardy! – about
government openness and secrecy. The flash video can be viewed at
http://democracy.openthegovernment.org/ -- with links provided for ways to
take action to fight back against secrecy and promote openness.
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