Mark Tapscott’s editorial in The Examiner this morning promotes the common sense idea behind the Punch Clock Campaign, and calls for the development of a Sunshine Caucus in the next Congress that includes all advocates for more transparency for Congress. We’re all for it. In fact, we like the idea so much, that I noticed that Zephyr is already referring to those involved in Sunlight’s work as "The Sunlight Caucus."

Here’s the heart of Tapscott’s editorial: 

WASHINGTON – You have to account for your working hours to your boss, right? So why shouldn’t your representative in Congress account for his or her working hours to his or her boss, who happens to be … you? That’s the point of the Punch Clock Agreement, which asks incumbents and congressional challengers of all parties to agree to post their daily schedules on their Web sites if they are elected….

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what happens to incumbents and challengers alike who not only agree to publish their daily schedules, but also to post their annual office budgets, campaign donors, full travel schedules and comprehensive financial disclosure documents (not the all-but-meaningless categorical declarations now required), as well as support legislation to apply the Freedom of Information Act to Congress (it doesn’t now). Call it the Sunshine Caucus.

And yes, we are committed to carrying on the Punch Clock Campaign after the election. More about those plans in another couple of weeks.