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Washington in brief
Senate moves to strengthen Freedom of Information Act
By wire services
Published June 25, 2005
WASHINGTON - The Senate took steps Friday to ensure that Congress clearly explains future efforts to restrict the public's access to government documents.
Approved by a voice vote, the Senate bill requires that new exemptions to what records are open for public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act be "stated explicitly within the text" of future legislation.
The measure was promoted by Sens. Jon Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
"If records can be open, they should be open," Cornyn said. "If good reason exists to keep something closed, it is the government that should bear the burden (of proving that), not the other way around."
White House defends Rove over comments on liberals
WASHINGTON - A White House official said Friday it's "somewhat puzzling" that Democrats are demanding presidential adviser Karl Rove's apology or resignation for implying that liberals are soft on terrorism.
"I think Karl was very specific, very accurate, in who he was pointing out," communications director Dan Bartlett said, pointing out the comments weren't aimed at all Democrats.
Rove on Wednesday night told a gathering of the New York Conservative Party, "Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." Conservatives, he said, "saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war."
[Last modified June 25, 2005, 00:35:14]
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