The OpenCRS database of research performed for Congress, and the Secrecy Report Card from OpenTheGovernment.org, have helped make more information about the federal government available online.
The diligent folks at • Since 2001, the "state secrets" privilege (the executive branch power to impose secrecy with little opportunity for appeal or judicial review) has been used a reported 39 times - an average of six times per year in 6.5 years that is more than double the average (2.46) in the previous 24 years.
• In 2006, 26 percent ($107.5 billion) of federal contracts dollars were completely uncompeted; only one-third of contracts dollars are subject to full and open competition.
• In six years, President Bush has issued at least 151 signing statements, challenging 1,149 provisions of laws. Of these challenges, 85 percent have been on "constitutional" grounds. Such challenges make it difficult for the public to know that the laws are "faithfully executed" as required by the U.S. Constitution.
• A 2007 Justice Department Office of the Inspector General report on secret wiretap warrants indicated that the government made 143,074 National Security Letter requests in the period 2003-2005. The number for 2006 remains classified. These requests can be used to obtain information about individuals without the government applying for a court-reviewed warrant.
Center for Democracy & Technology launched OpenCRS two years ago. However, their efforts recently received a boost. An anonymous member of Congress has agreed to provide the project with a running list of CRS reports as they are published, the Center said in a statement.
One recent report, on
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