What is a FOIA?

     F.O.I.A. stands for 'Freedom of Information Act' and you should be very interested in what this is and what is means for you.  Over the years, especially with corrupt governments, it was always difficult to obtain records or get information in general about internal workings and activities of your government.  It's very easy for the government to hide what they are doing from the public.  Some of the information that was being hidden was on the up-and-up and some wasn't.  But it was always easy to keep the information under the covers as apposed to explaining it or having to justify it to citizens with opposing view points or with simple or even hard questions that they didn't want to answer.

     To fight this problem, a law was introduced in 1965 and enacted in 1967 to make it easier to obtain government records.  By virtue of this first law it gave citizens the right to access and view government records.  Their activities where done with tax payer money that funds local, state, and federal activities and those records should not be hidden from the very people who are funding the activities.  By this law being enacted it gives the citizens the right to see and inspect the records their money pays for and they now have a voice to safeguard against corruption and keep them better informed.  It also keeps the government accountable.  

     There are exceptions, however.  Off the top of my head, you pretty much can't get employee dealings, (personal affairs), security issues, sensitive matters, and other information that shouldn't be a public record.  If a request is denied the person submitting the request has the right to be told why it was denied.  That person can appeal their case or even go to court to attempt to get the denial reversed. 

     Bottom line, you, as a citizen, have the right to know how and what your tax dollars are being used for.  You have every right to submit a form in an attempt to get the information you want to see.  I have helped submit a few of them myself to gain light on certain circumstances.  My opinion is that if government is acting above board, then they shouldn't mind releasing the requested information.  After all, much to some of their dismay, they work for us.  We DO NOT work for them.

     If you or someone you know has a need or desire to obtain information and you want to learn more, get help, or even get a copy of the form, reach out to me and I will help you anyway I can.  

Source:  https://www.justice.gov/archives/open/foia



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