More despicable evil. Copied this from Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/ ... 330/687172
Taking the first steps today in what will be a long journey to undo the damage done during eight years of the Bush administration, today President Obama issued two Executive Orders and three Presidential Memoranda, designed to usher in "a new era of transparent and open government."
Speaking to reporters, President Obama said that while the orders don't go far enough in "restoring accountability and fiscal restraint in Washington," they are a good start to regaining the trust of the American people. Describing it as a "committment to openness," Obama added that solving the problems that face our country will mean involving ordinary Americans, and announced that he will tap into the knowledge of "scientists and civic leaders, educators and entrepreneurs," to help shape policy in his administration.
The Orders and Memoranda state that:
* ... he will freeze his White House senior staff pay at current levels to the full extent allowed by law ... The President and his staff recognize that in these austere times, everyone must do more with less, and the White House is no exception.
* In the Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel, the President, first, prohibits executive branch employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists. Second, he closes the revolving door that allows government officials to move to and from private sector jobs in ways that give that sector undue influence over government. Third, he requires that government hiring be based upon qualifications, competence and experience, not political connections.
* ... the President instructs all members of his administration to operate under principles of openness, transparency and of engaging citizens with their government. To implement these principles and make them concrete, the Memorandum on Transparency instructs three senior officials to produce an Open Government Directive within 120 days directing specific actions to implement the principles in the Memorandum. And the Memorandum on FOIA instructs the Attorney General to in that same time period issue new guidelines to the government implementing those same principles of openness and transparency in the FOIA context.
* ... This order ends the practice of having others besides the President assert executive privilege for records after an administration ends. Now, only the President will have that power, limiting its potential for abuse. And the order also requires the Attorney General and the White House Counsel to review claims of executive privilege about covered records to make sure those claims are fully warranted by the Constitution.
Update by SusanG: Tim Dickinson over at Rolling Stone observes:
Obama has just rescinded the rule that would have let Bush’s heirs continue to claim executive privilege over his papers.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:02 pm