Kathianne
05-24-2013, 09:48 AM
http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=c27df7a8-05c9-6f77-6358-176a2c04e854
ICYMI: EPA Playing Politics with FOIA Fee Waivers
May 20, 2013
Last week, Rep. Darrell Issa and Sens. David Vitter, Chuck Grassley, and James Inhofe sent a letter to EPA's Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe regarding the Agency's practice of frequently granting fee waivers for Freedom of Information Act requests to national environmental groups, but rarely granting them to conservative think tanks, States and local entities. Click here to read Rep. Issa, Sen. Vitter, Sen. Grassley, and Sen. Inhofe's letter (http://1.usa.gov/17GIRko). Scroll down for news articles on the investigation.
http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=7e7b83a3-df13-4396-9213-816f854e9d7e (http://1.usa.gov/10KdnSV)
Reuters
Republicans see IRS scandal parallel in EPA info requests (http://reut.rs/10gc6qa)
By Valerie Volcovici | May 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Friday began an investigation into whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greatly favored left-leaning environmentalists over conservative groups when granting fee waivers for requests to access information.
The lawmakers drew a comparison between the actions they say the EPA has taken with the Internal Revenue Service, which is embroiled in controversy over its targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny.
Republican Senators David Vitter of Louisiana, Charles Grassley of Iowa and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Representative Darrell Issa of California, raised the issue in a letter to the acting administrator of the EPA.
The four lawmakers serve as the top Republicans on the environment, judiciary and House oversight and government reform committees, respectively.
They asked why 92 percent of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) fee waivers were granted to "environmental allies," while just 8 percent were granted to conservative think tanks. The disparity came to light this week in a report by a conservative research group.
Agencies can waive fees for requested information if they determine the information contributes to the public understanding of governmental activities.
"This disparate treatment is unacceptable, especially in light of the recent controversy over abusive tactics at the Internal Revenue Service, which singled out conservative groups for special scrutiny," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Bob Perciasepe, the EPA's acting administrator.
...
ICYMI: EPA Playing Politics with FOIA Fee Waivers
May 20, 2013
Last week, Rep. Darrell Issa and Sens. David Vitter, Chuck Grassley, and James Inhofe sent a letter to EPA's Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe regarding the Agency's practice of frequently granting fee waivers for Freedom of Information Act requests to national environmental groups, but rarely granting them to conservative think tanks, States and local entities. Click here to read Rep. Issa, Sen. Vitter, Sen. Grassley, and Sen. Inhofe's letter (http://1.usa.gov/17GIRko). Scroll down for news articles on the investigation.
http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=7e7b83a3-df13-4396-9213-816f854e9d7e (http://1.usa.gov/10KdnSV)
Reuters
Republicans see IRS scandal parallel in EPA info requests (http://reut.rs/10gc6qa)
By Valerie Volcovici | May 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Friday began an investigation into whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greatly favored left-leaning environmentalists over conservative groups when granting fee waivers for requests to access information.
The lawmakers drew a comparison between the actions they say the EPA has taken with the Internal Revenue Service, which is embroiled in controversy over its targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny.
Republican Senators David Vitter of Louisiana, Charles Grassley of Iowa and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Representative Darrell Issa of California, raised the issue in a letter to the acting administrator of the EPA.
The four lawmakers serve as the top Republicans on the environment, judiciary and House oversight and government reform committees, respectively.
They asked why 92 percent of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) fee waivers were granted to "environmental allies," while just 8 percent were granted to conservative think tanks. The disparity came to light this week in a report by a conservative research group.
Agencies can waive fees for requested information if they determine the information contributes to the public understanding of governmental activities.
"This disparate treatment is unacceptable, especially in light of the recent controversy over abusive tactics at the Internal Revenue Service, which singled out conservative groups for special scrutiny," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Bob Perciasepe, the EPA's acting administrator.
...