<p>Senator Dick Durbin is <a href="http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=318">crafting a bill online</a> this week on universal broadband policy. I don't know if this effort is a first of its kind but I think it might well be.</p> <blockquote><p>Today I'm writing to invite you to participate in an experiment -- an interactive approach to drafting legislation on one of the most significant public policy questions today: What should be America's national broadband strategy? . . . There are two reasons I'm asking for your help and participation. The first is because I think we need more public participation and transparency in the way Congress crafts significant legislation. This is an approach to legislation that has never been tried before. If it's successful -- as I believe it will be -- it may become the way lawmakers approach drafting bills on other issues like education, health care, and foreign policy.</p></blockquote> <p>Now this is lawmaking in the sunlight!<!--break--> No doubt (given the sponsorship of the effort by the folks over at <a href="http://openleft.com/frontPage.do">OpenLeft</a>) Sen. Durbin will hear from people from a progressive perspective on the issue but I wouldn't be surprised if a variety of industry reps, lobbyists and public interest groups on all sides of the political spectrum will chime in. I wonder if either side of the debate will hedge their arguments since they will be so public. This is a grand experiment in putting the lobbying process online. </p> <p>But there's more than this that the senator can do. Beyond seeing the comments of the participants online, I'd sure like know <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/index.asp">the lobbyists</a> the Senator will meet in his office as the bill is developed, whether he takes <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?CID=N00004981">political contributions</a> from those who have a financial stake in the outcome. Are there any of the senator's <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/search_result.asp?key=Durbin&submit=Go%21">staff now working for the affected industries</a>, or <a href="http://sunlightlabs.com/research/familybusiness/">spouse who does</a>? </p> <p>This is the start of something big, of that I am sure.</p>
