Suggestions for Office of Government Information Services reforms arise in congressional hearing

Activists stressed the importance of the Office of Government Information Services continuing to serve as independent mediator in FOIA disputes.

Open-government advocates renewed their calls Wednesday for quick implementation of the latest Freedom of Information reforms, including the establishment of an ombudsman office.

Congress has appropriated $1 million for the Office of Government Information Services but the money will not be available until the next fiscal year. The reforms were slowed by Bush administration efforts to move the new office from the National Archives, where Congress placed it in legislation last year, to the Justice Department.

As a result, the National Archives has yet to get the office up and running.

More here.