For four decades, the Freedom of Information Act has enabled journalists, businesses, public interest groups and ordinary citizens to get government information. It's been used to break stories on subjects ranging from the anthrax vaccine to conditions at Guantanamo Bay. Lengthy waits plague FOIA. To fix that, Congress is on the verge of mandating that requests are tracked, deadlines enforced and agencies penalized for delays. Following easy passage by the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee, however, the FOIA fix has been halted. Despite recent reports detailing delays and difficulties in getting government information, the Department of Justice has objected to the new legislation. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., is blocking it under Senate rules that allow any senator to place a 'hold' on a bill. (USA Today, Wednesday)
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