Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives
August 14, 2019
The Honorable Douglas Letter
Part of General Counsel
219 Cannon House Office Edifice
U.S House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Beloved Mr. Letter:
We, the undersigned organizations, write concerning the connection between the Part of Full general Counsel and the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group ("BLAG"). It is our understanding that the BLAG "speaks for and articulates the institutional position of the House of Representatives in all litigation matters"[ane] while the Office of General Counsel provides "legal assistance and representation to the Firm"[ii] pursuant to the management of the Speaker, who consults with the BLAG. In short, the BLAG articulates the legal position of the House and your office puts it into practice.
We commend the Office of Full general Counsel on maintaining a public-facing website that contains information almost the office, including a list of its electric current and prior general counsels; relevant House rules; a listing of staff; notable court opinions; select amici briefs; etc.[3] At this time, there is no congressional webpage that focuses on the BLAG.
Given the interrelationship betwixt OGC and the BLAG, we asking y'all expand your website to include bones information the BLAG. It could include a clarification of what it is; who serves on the BLAG; how it functions; instances when the BLAG authorizes OGC to accept a legal position; courtroom filings; and select explanatory or historical documents (such every bit CRS reports) that would shed lite on its operations. Nosotros also would welcome more robust data about OGC filings fabricated at the management of the BLAG, such as a list of courtroom proceedings and a repository of amici briefs. This would significantly better public understanding of both the BLAG and your office'southward operations, providing appropriate transparency that is consonant with the policy direction of the House of Representatives.
The information nosotros are requesting probable is already publicly bachelor, but not consolidated into a cardinal location or organized in a way that would exist meaningful for the public. We are not seeking confidential communications or information protected past the attorney-customer human relationship. Nosotros request that you focus on information for the 116th Congress, and add together information from recent Congresses when appropriate.[4]
Our request is consonant with the approach the House has undertaken to be more than transparent regarding its activities. We appreciate your consideration and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you further. Please contact Daniel Schuman, policy director, Need Progress, at [email protected] or 202-577-6100.
With best regards,
American-Arab Anti-Bigotry Committee
Entrada For Liberty
Eye for Responsive Politics
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew)
Common Cause
Demand Progress
Government Information Spotter
Effect One
Lincoln Network
National Security Counselors
National Taxpayers Union
Open the Government
Project On Authorities Oversight
R Street Establish
Cc: Members of the BLAG, Members of the Committee on House Assistants
Notes
[1] House Dominion two, clause 8(b).
[ii] Firm Rule 2, clause 8(a).
[3] Meet https://ogc.house.gov/.
[iv] Nosotros wrote to your predecessor, Thomas Hungar, in May 2018, with a similar request. That letter is bachelor at https://s3.amazonaws.com/demandprogress/messages/Letter_on_BLAG_Transparency_2018-05-23.pdf.
Source: https://www.legbranch.org/groups-request-more-visibility-from-houses-bipartisan-legal-advisory-group/
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