Does the FOIA officer in the Office of Administration have "the easiest job in the world?"
Chris Joyner, who writes about First Amendment issues at the Clarion-Ledger, asks who has "the easiest job in the world?" He also has an answer:
Apparently, it's FOIA officer Carol Ehrlich in the White House's Office of Administration.
The Justice Department is claiming the office, which handles (surprise) administrative functions for the White House, is not covered by FOIA, despite the fact that it has a FOIA officer and has responded to FOIA requests in the past. In fact, an executive order has the office was under a FOIA improvement plan. No matter, Justice said.
Noting that CREW's Melanie Sloan was "not impressed with Justice's claim," Mr. Joyner also has a suggestion for anyone who know Ms. Ehrlich:
Anyway, if you went to school with Carol and are looking to catch up, now is a good time to call. Turns out, her workload just got a lot lighter.
Easy to sympathize with Carol Ehrlich
another federal employee in a meaningless job sitting there looking glum all day hoping against hope that some stray piece of paper will blow across the room and alight on her desk. Another victim of Bushco.
Syndicate this content
By CHARLES BABINGTON The
By CHARLES BABINGTON
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 23, 2007; 8:02 PM
WASHINGTON -- Three-term Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican facing a federal inquiry into his family's insurance business, said Thursday he will not seek re-election next year. Renzi becomes the fifth GOP House member in recent weeks to announce retirement plans, giving Democrats hopes of possibly picking up seats next year that otherwise would not be in play...
FBI agents in April raided a Sonoita, Ariz., business owned by Renzi's wife, Roberta. Law enforcement officials confirmed in October that they were scrutinizing a land swap that netted Renzi's former business partner, friend and campaign donor $4.5 million.
Renzi, 49, has denied all wrongdoing. Still, less than a week after the raid, he stepped down temporarily from all three of his House committee assignments. He also withdrew from a GOP fundraising campaign, which raises money for incumbents in vulnerable seats.
Renzi has also faced scrutiny from the Federal Election Commission, which investigated allegations that he channeled prohibited corporate funds into his 2002 campaign. The FEC eventually dropped the inquiry, but Renzi has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes while settling the charges.
He also became embroiled in the congressional investigation into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, including Paul Charlton of Arizona, after his chief of staff in April acknowledged calling Charlton's office to ask about the media reports related to the land deal. Lawmakers have questioned whether some of the prosecutors were fired for being too effective at investigating Republican political corruption...
Other Republicans stepping down from Congress are former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and veteran Republican Reps. Deborah Pryce of Ohio and Chip Pickering of Mississippi, who announced last week they won't seek re-election next November. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., announced the same in late July.