Sunshine in Government Initiative releases set of Obama transition proposals

The Sunshine in Government Initiative released a new set of transition team proposals for the incoming Obama administration this week with a focus on the news media.

SGI, of which the Reporters Committee is a member, had four key recommendations for the White House.

They include a presumption of disclosure in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, a ramping up of efforts for the newly created FOIA ombudsman office at the National Archives, and a curtailing of new laws prohibiting disclosure of information.

The final item on this list is a recommendation that administration officials speak on the record in press briefings, “in all statements about policy and current news about public matters.”

SGI executive director Rick Blum said in a press release, “These actions would show President-elect Obama intends to fulfill his pledge to restore open government in Washington.”

Several other groups have released transition proposals including OMB Watch, to which the Reporters Committee has also signed on.