Rockefeller Issues Statement Opposing FOIA Legislation
Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia on Dec. 5 said he opposed a pending freedom of information reform bill because it would have the unintended consequence of impairing enforcement of laws protecting consumers from financial fraud.
His four-page statement confirmed reports that he is opposing the widely supported, bipartisan bill (S 2520), apparently the only senator to feel that way. A parallel bill passed unanimously in the House, a virtually unheard of result in the current political environment, and supports had hoped for unanimous support in the Senate.
The nature of his objection, seemingly directed at a core provision, would appear to doom the this year, barring last-minute compromise. In the final days of the congressional session, even one senator can block a bill. Rockefeller hinted at compromise, saying, “I hope there is a way to address these concerns and pass the bill.”
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