E-Government reauthorization bill held up

This doesn't appear to be a good development.

A Senate bill to reauthorize the eGovernment Act of 2002, which had been approved and was set for a floor vote, hit a sudden and unexpected snag that puts a number of government information technology initiatives on hold or in limbo.

The E-Government Reauthorization Act of 2007 (S-2321) was intended to extend appropriations and authorization for programs whose authorizations have expired and create new requirements for accessibility of government information. The programs would authorized through 2012. The bill also provided mandates to develop best practices to enhance privacy impact assessments.

It also provided mandates to develop best practices to enhance privacy impact assessments. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

However, a last minute bid by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to attach an amendment to the reauthorization act has stalled the bill, according to legislative and executive branch sources. And with the Senate due to adjourn, the bill will effectively die.

The amendment, sources said, placed controversial new requirements for protecting personal individual information and restrictions on data brokers. Efforts to move the amendment to another bill, proved unsuccessful, leading to a deadlock, sources said.

Privacy is good but so is online access to government transcripts and records. Sounds like it's time to urge Lieberman and Leahy to work out a compromise.