WHITE HOUSE TRANSPARENCY CZAR PROPOSED: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduces legislation to establish a new Director of Openness in Government (DOG) with some new tools to enforce federal transparency laws and statutes like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The new federal DOG would be part of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House, so it could be a significant step forward for transparency and accountability. That said, the biggest obstacle to greater transparency will remain, the fact no federal bureaucrat or politico has ever gone to jail for violating the FOIA.