Rep. Jason Chaffetz's bill would open Fannie, Freddie to information requests

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, thinks the internal workings of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be open to public scrutiny.

Chaffetz introduced a bill Thursday that would make the two government-sponsored mortgage enterprises — now under conservatorship by the federal government — subject to public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

"I think the public has the right to look under the hood," Chaffetz said Thursday.

Most of the federal government is subject to such requests for information, and so should Fannie and Freddie, Chaffetz said.

"We're on the hook for literally hundreds of billions of dollars," he said. "FOIA makes possible a level of transparency and accountability in federal agencies that is desperately needed here."

Chaffetz said he's pleased to have support for the bill from fellow Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich.; Lamar Smith, R-Texas; Darrell Issa, R-Calif.; and Spencer Bachus, R-Ala.

— Joseph M. Dougherty