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ASNE supports bill to facilitate access to presidential records

Last week, ASNE and 31 other non-profit organizations submitted a letter to Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in support of H.R. 3071, a bill designed to facilitate access to presidential records.

Last week, ASNE and 31 other non-profit organizations submitted a letter to Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in support of H.R. 3071, a bill designed to facilitate access to presidential records.

The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2011 would create a concrete framework for the assertion of privilege by a former president, and would establish a process to determine the validity of such claims. Under current law, each incoming president issues an executive order to deal with their predecessors' claims of privilege, leading to widespread inconsistency in how presidential papers are handled. For example, President George W. Bush issued an order giving former presidents the right to prevent publication of their records through the mere claim of privilege. Conversely, President Obama's executive order gives the incumbent president the final word on such assertions. H.R. 3071 wouldn't accelerate access to presidential records, the release of which are still delayed for 12 years, but it would limit former presidents' power to prevent or unnecessarily delay their release. (copy of letter sent to the committee.)

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