The bankers and regulators who brought the U.S. economy to its knees in 2009 have some shame after all. They are keeping secret their opposition to a bill strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This year, they may be in the spotlight.

In the deadlocked, do-nothing 113th Congress that ended last December, Republicans and Democrats could agree on one thing: a modest FOIA bill (S 2520, HR 1211). It passed the House 410-0 and the Senate unanimously. But it died at the last minute when House Speaker John Boehner did not bring it up to be cleared — reportedly at the urging of the banking industry and the agencies that represent ... er, regulate ... it: the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Now fix-FOIA bills have risen from the ashes and look to be headed for early action in the 114th Congress. Open-government advocates are cheering loudly.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, despite changing from Democrat to Republican control, unanimously approved a FOIA bill (S 337) on February 5, 2015. A similar House bill (HR 653) was introduced February 2 and awaits action by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The open-government community wasted no time in supporting the legislation. They sent a letter of support to Congressional leaders February 5. Some 47 groups signed on the the letter. This year's legislation substantially resembles last year's.

• "47 Groups Rally Around FOIA Reform As Bill Moves to Senate Floor," [2] Sunlight Foundation, February 5, 2015, by Sean Vitka.
• "Center for Effective Government Urges Congress To Pass Legislation To Strengthen Freedom of Information Act," [3] Center for Effective Government, Release of February 3, 2015.
• "Standoff Could Scuttle FOIA Bill," [4] Politico, December 7, 2014, by Josh Gerstein.
• "Banking Lobbyists Opposing FOIA Bill, Sources Say," [5] FreedomInfo blog, December 10, 2014.
• Previous Story: WatchDog of December 17, 2014. [6]