Survey shows adults support Obama's FOI plan, still view fed. government as secretive

The 2009 Sunshine Week survey, conducted by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University, shows that public opinion about government secrecy is leveling off but has grown steadily since 2006. Not surprisingly, most people still consider their local and state governments more open than the federal government. People are, however, supportive of President Obama's call for more government transparency.

For the first time in four years, public opinion about government secrecy has leveled off, although more than seven in 10 adults still consider the federal government to be secretive, according to the 2009 Sunshine Week survey by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University.

Since 2006, the percentage of adults who believe the federal government to be somewhat or very secretive has grown steadily; from 62 percent in 2006 to 74 percent in 2008. The latest survey finds 73 percent characterizing federal government as secretive.

This mood is perhaps buoyed by the nearly eight in 10 adults who think President Obama's Freedom of Information directive calling for a presumption of disclosure is the right thing to do.

More here.