When David All and I wrote in an Op-Ed for The Hill that “the time has come to re-imagine the world of the wired elected official,” I did not expect members of Congress to be so quick to pick up and use these new lines of communication. Halfway into the year more members of Congress are using their Web site to disseminate useful information and some, albeit very few, are actually communicating with citizens in meaningful two-way dialogue both on and off their member Web site. Perhaps the most innovative example of this is Sen. Dick Durbin’s effort to craft broadband legislation with the help of citizens online, which Ellen wrote about earlier today.

  <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&#39;t know if this effort is a first of its kind but I think it might well be.</p>    <blockquote><p>Today I&#39;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&#39;s national broadband strategy? . . . There are two reasons I&#39;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&#39;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!