Sunlight Foundation

Sunlight's policy team prepares testimony, briefings, and presentations that elucidate our policy proposals.

• Ellen Miller Senate Testimony on Transparency

  Testimony of Ellen S. Miller, Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security March 18, 2010

• Prepared Remarks for the FCC's Open Government & Civic Engagement Workshop Program

  John Wonderlich's Remarks for the FCC's Open Government & Civic Engagement Workshop Program.

• Coalition of Organizations Calls for Hearings on Public Online Information Act

  A coalition of more than 25 organizations called on Congress to hold hearings on the Public Online Information Act.

• Summary of the Public Online Information Act

  In the age of the Internet, government is transparent only when public information is available online.

• Plain Language Version of the Public Online Information Act

  Summary prepared by the Office of Representative Steve Israel (D-NY)

• Testimony of Ellen S. Miller, Executive Director The Sunlight Foundation Before the Committee Rules United States Senate

  Mr. Chairman, Senator Bennett, members of the Committee, thank you very much for the opportunity to submit testimony on behalf of the Sunlight Foundation. My name is Ellen Miller and I am the co-founder and executive director of the Sunlight Foundation. The mission of the Sunlight Foundation is to use cutting-edge technology to make government transparent and accountable.

• A Comprehensive Disclosure Regime in the Wake of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

  The Supreme Court, in its Citizen United decision, opened the door to an unfettered, unregulated influx of money into elections from corporations and labor unions. The Sunlight Foundation recommends seven broad transparency measures to address the multitude of problems exacerbated by the decision. Moreover, we urge Congress to immediately create a robust, rapid transparency regime that takes full advantage of technology. This requires real-time, online transparency at every level of influence, from independent expenditures to lobbying to bundled campaign contributions.

• Illinois Reform Commission Testimony

  Illinois Reform Commission In the wake of the Blagojevich scandals, Illinois' Governor Quinn set up the Illinois Reform Commission to address systemic governance problems there. John Wonderlich testified before the commission in February of 2009.

• NY State Senate Testimony

  The New York State Senate's Temporary Committee on Rules Reform was set up to deal with longstanding procedural issues in the Senate. John Wonderlich testified there in February of 2009.

• The TARP Lobbying Rules: What They Say And What They Mean For Transparency

  This article examines the TARP lobbying rules and identifies some key differences between the TARP rules and the stimulus lobbying rules, which were issued over the summer and document lobbying over recovery dollars. The article suggests that the Treasure should implement an online searchable lobbying database of all disclosures required under the rules, which would be updated in real-time. The article also suggests that the Treasury, along with the administration generally, should reconsider the format it uses to promulgate rules.