Blog Archives

Lawsuits Hurt Kids

Mar 16, 2022

What is the lawsuit? Ohio offers a number of scholarships which benefit kids on the autism spectrum, kids with special needs, kids living in underperforming school districts, and kids living in poverty. The scholarships take a small portion of per-pupil state funds that normally follow kids to their public school district, and instead follow kids […]

Multiple Bites at the Apple: Why Renewed Motions for Summary Judgment Under FOIA are a Problem

Mar 16, 2022

This article was authored by Kel McClanahan of National Security Counselors for Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s Sunshine Week 2022 essay series on reforming FOIA. Scene: A courtroom. There are four people seated, two each at two tables. Then a voice rings out: “All rise!” They all stand. Five men and three women file into the room and […]

A modest proposal for fee reform

Mar 15, 2022

This article was authored by Allan Blutstein, director of FOIA operations at America Rising Corp., for Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s Sunshine Week 2022 essay series on reforming FOIA. When the Freedom of Information Act was amended in 1986 to create a three-tiered fee system, its purpose was undisputed: to recoup more FOIA processing costs from commercial […]

Mandatory attorney’s fees: Funding robust advocacy for requesters

Mar 15, 2022

This article was authored by Matt Topic of Loevy & Loevy for Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s Sunshine Week 2022 essay series on reforming FOIA. According to none other than Richard Nixon, “When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affairs, […]

Three simple yet potentially revolutionary ideas for FOIA reform

Mar 14, 2022

This article was authored by Ginger Quintero-McCall, legal director for Demand Progress, for Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s Sunshine Week 2022 essay series on reforming FOIA. I am writing this from the standpoint of having spent several years serving as a Freedom of Information Act attorney in the federal government, and also having worked closely with […]

Creating a Freedom of Information court

Mar 14, 2022

This article was authored by Policy Council Ryan Mulvey and Chief Policy Council James Valvo of Americans for Prosperity Foundation for its Sunshine Week 2022 essay series on reforming FOIA. Freedom of Information Act requesters, litigators, and advocates generally agree FOIA is broken. We have witnessed a trend toward less disclosure, increased delay, and novel […]

Two years into the pandemic, poll finds Americans feel their civil liberties are less secure

Mar 11, 2022

New survey from YouGov and Americans for Prosperity reveals reduced trust in public leaders over handling of public health policies. Today, approaching the 2nd anniversary of the start of the pandemic, YouGov and Americans for Prosperity released new research showing high concern among Americans over the state of their civil liberties and their trust in […]

Workers are demanding flexible work arrangements, especially after the pandemic. Here are the reforms lawmakers need to implement to promote worker freedom and flexibility for today's workforce and economy.

How should lawmakers promote the flexible work arrangements workers and families need?

Mar 11, 2022

Updated August 31, 2022 In his State of the Union address earlier this year, it was no surprise to see President Biden shift his domestic policy focus to economic rather than health issues as COVID-19 restrictions roll back nationally, even in schools, and the CDC eases its recommendations. Unfortunately, the vision President Biden shared with […]

Reforming FOIA: The best ideas for better government transparency and accountability

Mar 10, 2022

Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in 1966 to give ordinary citizens a means to know what their government is doing. The FOIA exists to hold the executive branch accountable to the people. But both the private sector — journalists, citizen activists, and government watchdogs — and even some public officials within the […]