It’s not quite as significant a legislative accomplishment as passage last year of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, but passage of the OPEN Government Act of 2007 is important nevertheless.

Originally introduced with co-sponsorship by Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, in 2002, the bill makes some important improvements in the federal Freedom of Information Act. Cornyn delivered this statement to the Senate just before Congress adjourned for Christmas: